We’ll take it: a TikToker rallies pledges to buy Spirit Airlines after its abrupt weekend collapse

Source: TechCrunch

Image Credits: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg / Getty Images

Background

When Spirit Airlines shut down overnight on Saturday—cancelling all flights, laying off 17,000 employees, and telling ticket‑holders to simply not come to the airport—the public reaction was a mix of shock and disappointment. Despite its many shortcomings, Spirit was known for its low fares, which left many travelers feeling stranded.

TikTok Campaign

Hunter Peterson, a voice actor with frequent‑flyer grievances, posted a TikTok asking: what if 20 % of American adults chipped in the price of a Spirit fare and just… bought it? He dubbed the idea “Spirit 2.0: Owned by the People.” Within hours he built a rudimentary website (a “janky, one‑hour job,” by his own admission). By Sunday, the site attracted 36,000 “founding patrons” who pledged nearly $23 million, causing the servers to crash.

Pledges and Response

“I know what I don’t know,” he told his followers, but “you’re committing to this bit, so I’m committing to this bit.”

The pledges are non‑binding and do not represent actual money. It’s also worth noting that the real cost of acquiring and relaunching an airline runs into the billions—a fact Peterson acknowledges. In a follow‑up video posted earlier today, he humorously appealed for help, recruiting aviation lawyers, PR professionals, and other experts with a single word: “Help?”