'Get in losers, we're gonna buy an airline': Creator launches crowdfunding campaign to buy Spirit Airlines

A TikTok creator has launched a crowdfunding campaign aimed at purchasing Spirit Airlines just one week after the budget airline announced it was shutting down operations.

Hunter Peterson posted a viral video suggesting he could buy Spirit Airlines through crowdfunding. The video, which has gained more than 7 million views, proposed reviving the airline if enough people pledged support to the campaign.

"This is a genius idea: We nationalize Spirit Airlines, owned by the people. Airlines gone. We make a new airline," he said in the video.

Peterson later launched letsbuyspiritair.com, a website allowing users to submit pledges toward the proposed acquisition. As of May 9, the campaign has generated more than $337 million in total pledges from 371,552 participants, with an average pledge of $907. The campaign’s stated goal is $1.75 billion.

The pledges do not involve actual payments, but instead show expressed interest from supporters. The proposal is inspired by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, which is known for its public ownership model. Users who make a pledge can indicate a proposed ownership stake in Spirit Airlines.

"This started as a joke and this is rapidly going out of control in the best possible way," Peterson said in another video.

The airlines announced on May 2 that it would be shutting down operations following failed restructuring efforts and an inability to secure additional funding. The airline said it would issue refunds for all unused booked flights.

"For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines has played a pioneering role in making travel more accessible and bringing people together while driving affordability across the industry," Spirit’s CEO Dave Davis said in a statement.