Homeland Security Secretary Reportedly Authorized Acquisition of Ten Engine-Free Spirit Airline Aircraft Which Carrier Didn't Own
The head of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines aircraft before discovering that the carrier did not actually own the aircraft – and that the planes were missing power plants.
This bizarre incident was detailed in a report published on Friday, which described how the secretary and a former campaign manager had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the two intended to use the planes to increase deportation flights – and for private use.
Those insiders also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply increasing existing flight contracts.
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Complicating matters further, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in August, did not own the jets and their engines would have had to be bought independently. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this season's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.
“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.
A department representative told the Journal that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were inaccurate but declined to offer additional clarification.
The legislature had previously authorized the termed “major immigration bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border-related operations, a amount that makes ICE the most well-funded federal agency in the federal government.
In the autumn, it was reported that the administration was transporting individuals detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.
Leaked data reviewed from charter airline GlobalX detailed the travels of tens of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the country before removal.
