DHS head reportedly authorized purchase of 10 engineless Spirit Airlines planes that airline didn't own

"The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Kristi Noem, reportedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering the airline didn't actually own the planes and that the aircraft lacked engines. The bizarre anecdote was contained in a Wall Street Journal report released on Friday, which recounted how Noem and Corey Lewandowski who managed Donald Trump's first winning presidential campaign had recently arranged to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the two intended to use the jets to expand deportation flights and for personal travel."

"Complicating matters further, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time, in August, did not own the jets and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been paused, according to the Journal. Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this fall's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200m. It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200m, Democratic representatives Rosa DeLauro and Lauren Underwood wrote in a letter to the DHS."

Kristi Noem authorized purchase of Spirit Airlines jets and later learned the airline did not own the planes and that the aircraft lacked engines. Noem and Corey Lewandowski arranged to buy ten Boeing 737 aircraft intended for deportation flights and personal travel. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials cautioned that buying aircraft would be far more expensive than expanding existing flight contracts. The planned purchase was paused after ownership and engine issues surfaced. Spirit had filed for bankruptcy protection and would have required separate engine purchases. During the government shutdown, the Coast Guard procured two Gulfstream G700 jets for $200 million. The Department of Homeland Security disputed some details of the plane purchases. Congress approved roughly $170 billion for immigration and border-related operations.

Read at www.theguardian.com