"This is it tonight": Spirit Airlines pilots sign off on final flights

3 days ago 15

Air postulation power audio records showed the exchanges betwixt controllers and the pilots of immoderate of Spirit Airlines' last flights overnight Saturday, soon aft the hose announced it was ceasing operations aft a government bailout failed to materialize.

Around midnight, an American Airlines worker astatine Dallas Fort Worth International Airport tin beryllium heard offering good wishes to Spirit employees connected the airline's second-to-last formation astatine that airport.

"Sorry to perceive what happened," the American Airlines worker says successful the audio, which was obtained by LiveATC.com.

About 10 minutes later, the aviator of Spirit's last formation astatine the airdrome asked an aerial postulation controller if immoderate much Spirit flights are acceptable to land.

"I don't spot anything," the controller replies. "You mightiness beryllium the past one."

"This is it tonight," the aviator says.

A signaling from Chicago O'Hare International Airport catches aerial postulation power unit sending good wishes to Spirit employees.

"It's hard to judge this is it," the Spirit Airlines aviator says successful the audio, shared by ATC.com.

"Yeah, nary kidding," operation unit reply. "It's been a pleasance to speech with you guys connected the radios. Hope you guys tin marque it retired OK."

Spirit Airlines Shuts Down After Rescue Deal Talks Fall Through

Spirit Airlines was based successful Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and employed astir 15,000 people. About 6,000 of those employees were based successful Florida.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said successful a Saturday quality league that different airlines are offering preferential interviews to Spirit unit who person mislaid their jobs.

The Air Line Pilots Association said Spirit's closure is "a devastating stroke to much than 2,000 ALPA pilots and thousands of different hardworking employees who dedicated their careers to this airline," and said that unit "deserved amended than this outcome."

Sarah Ploss contributed to this report.

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