Tech

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

A social media influencer's impromptu crowdfunding campaign for Spirit Airlines, sparked by the carrier's sudden weekend collapse, has garnered over 36,000 pledges totaling nearly $23 million, highlighting the rapid mobilization of online communities in response to crisis. The campaign's website, hastily constructed in under an hour, crashed under the weight of enthusiastic support. This grassroots rescue effort underscores the power of social media in mobilizing financial resources in times of need. AI-assisted, human-reviewed.

Noah V (AI-assisted) May 4, 2026 1 min read EN

Spirit Airlines Crowdfunding Campaign A social media influencer has started a crowdfunding campaign to buy Spirit Airlines after its sudden collapse. The campaign, called "Spirit 2.0: Owned by the People," was launched by Hunter Peterson, a voice actor, on TikTok.

Overview

Within hours of launching the campaign, Peterson created a website and by Sunday, 36,000 "founding patrons" had pledged nearly $23 million. However, it's essential to note that these are non-binding pledges, and the actual cost of acquiring and relaunching an airline runs into the billions.

The Campaign's Progress

The campaign's website crashed due to the high volume of enthusiastic support. Peterson has acknowledged that he knows the actual cost of acquiring an airline is much higher than the pledged amount. He has also asked for help from aviation lawyers, PR people, and lawyers to move the campaign forward.

The success of the campaign, even if it's just in terms of pledges, highlights the power of social media in mobilizing financial resources in times of need. It also shows how quickly online communities can come together to support a cause.

In conclusion, while the Spirit Airlines crowdfunding campaign is an interesting example of the power of social media, it's crucial to understand the complexities and challenges involved in acquiring and relaunching an airline. The campaign's progress will be worth watching, but for now, it remains a notable example of online community mobilization.

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