TikToker launches campaign to buy Spirit Airlines after sudden shutdown

After Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations overnight on Saturday — cancelling all flights, laying off 17,000 employees, and advising ticket holders not to come to the airport — reactions ranged from shock to disappointment. Despite its reputation for no-frills service, the airline had remained a go-to option for budget-conscious travellers. In the aftermath, one individual floated an unusual idea.

Hunter Peterson, a voice actor known for sharing frequent flyer frustrations, took to TikTok with a proposal: What if 20% of American adults each contributed the cost of a Spirit ticket and collectively purchased the airline? He dubbed the concept “Spirit 2.0: Owned by the People.” Within hours, he had launched a basic website — which he described as a quick one-hour effort — and by Sunday, around 36,000 “founding patrons” had pledged nearly $23 million, overwhelming the site’s servers.

However, the pledged amount is not actual funding, as these commitments are non-binding. It’s also important to note that acquiring and restarting an airline typically requires billions of dollars. Peterson acknowledged this reality. In a follow-up video shared earlier today, he humorously called on aviation lawyers, public relations professionals, and legal experts to join the effort, summing up his request in a single word: “Help?”

“I know what I don’t know,” Peterson told his audience, adding that “you’re committing to this bit, so I’m committing to this bit.”