'Godspeed my friend': Inside the final hours of Spirit Airlines

spirit airlines flew its last flights friday night, ending a 34-year run as america's discount carrier. the airline shut down after bondholders rejected a trump administration bailout proposal that could have included up to $500 million. commerce secretary howard lutnick called spirit ceo dave davis to say there was no deal. about 17,000 direct and indirect employees lost their jobs. spirit had 4% of the u.s. market share, according to cirium. the airline last made money in 2019 and faced competition from delta, united, and american, plus a failed jetblue acquisition, an engine defect, and rising fuel costs from the war in iran. it filed for bankruptcy protection last august for the second time in under a year. the last flight, nk1833 from detroit to dallas fort worth, landed just after midnight with 175 passengers. a spirit dispatcher sent a message to the pilot via cockpit system: "unofficially we stop flying at 0300 est on 05/02. godspeed my friend."