Homeland Security Secretary Reportedly Approved Purchase of 10 Engineless Spirit Airline Planes That Carrier Didn't Own
The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering that the carrier did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.
This strange incident was contained in a report released on the end of the week, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the two intended to use the planes to increase removal flights – and for personal travel.
Those sources also claimed that ICE officials had cautioned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply expanding current charter agreements.
ICE confronting intense criticism after footage apparently shows unconscious man holding infant during detention.
Complicating matters further, the airline, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not possess the jets and their power plants would have had to be acquired separately. The proposal has since been halted, according to the report.
In the interim, Democrats on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this fall's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.
“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a expense to the public of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.
A department representative informed the outlet that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were inaccurate but declined to provide additional clarification.
Congress had earlier approved the termed “big, beautiful bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border-related operations, a sum that makes ICE the most well-funded federal agency in the federal government.
In September, it was revealed that the administration was transporting individuals held as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.
Leaked data reviewed from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the journeys of tens of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the country before deportation.
