Spirit Passengers Stranded as Airlines Collapses

Frustrated passengers stranded by the collapse of bankrupt discount Spirit Airlines scrambled to figure out how to get to their destinations after the discount carrier ceased operations on Saturday. At the Orlando International Airport, a digital departure display sign was filled with bright red notifications of cancelled Spirit flights that had destinations everywhere from Nashville to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Passengers said they were offered no immediate refunds hotel vouchers to compensate them for their loss. They did not give us any refund. We had to call one of our uncles so if he can help help us pay for the next flight because we did not have any money. We had to pay uh one thousand one thousand six hundred for the for the flight for today but we had to call someone to help us because we couldn't afford it. And when we get here there was a guy so calm posting some signs saying that Spirit ain't working no more. So what what we gonna do? There was ladies with kids on the floor and there's even a lot of people a lot of people that they they can't afford to buy another ticket so that's that's bad you don't do something like that to people. It's unclear how many passengers are facing the same situation. Spirit Airlines accounted for five percent of U.S. flights last year and no U.S. carrier of its size has liquidated in two decades. The U.S. Department of State vowed to bring any stranded passengers overseas home. We encourage all American citizens who are concerned Spirit passengers to consult with resources and guidance from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson wrote in a statement while commercial availability remains readily available across the affected regions the department is committed to assisting Americans in need of support returning to the United States.