Trending Now - Tiktok User Sparks Crowdfunding Campaign to Save Spirit Airlines
WHO:
TechCrunch - Hunter Peterson, a voice actor and Spirit Airlines superfan, is leading the crowdfunding campaign.
Business Insider - Peterson refers to the supporters as "everyday people," including former employees and passengers.
WHAT:
TechCrunch - Peterson launched a website for the crowdfunding campaign, which crashed due to high traffic.
Business Insider - The campaign, named Spirit 2.0, has received pledges from 36,605 people totaling nearly $23 million.
Business Insider - Peterson is targeting commitments of $1.7 billion to purchase Spirit Airlines.
Business Insider - Spirit Airlines served passengers for 34 years before its collapse.
WHERE:
Business Insider - The campaign is based online, with Peterson's website attracting millions of views.
WHEN:
Business Insider - The collapse of Spirit Airlines occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Business Insider - Peterson's campaign began on the same day as the airline's collapse.
WHY:
Business Insider - Peterson aims to prevent private equity from acquiring Spirit Airlines and believes that the community can take ownership of the airline.
Business Insider - The campaign was inspired by the Green Bay Packers' model of community ownership.
HOW:
Business Insider - Peterson is accepting non-binding pledges of intent starting at $45, with no actual money collected yet.
Business Insider - The website encourages people to demonstrate their collective will and capital to make a serious bid for the airline.
(UPDATED May 4, 2026 04:12 UTC)
Hunter Peterson, a voice actor and dedicated fan of Spirit Airlines, is spearheading a crowdfunding campaign called Spirit 2.0, which aims to raise $1.7 billion to purchase the airline following its recent collapse. The campaign has already garnered pledges from over 36,600 supporters, totaling nearly $23 million, and Peterson's website experienced a crash due to overwhelming traffic as it attracted millions of views. Inspired by the community ownership model of the Green Bay Packers, Peterson is inviting everyday people, including former employees and passengers, to show their commitment with non-binding pledges starting at $45, emphasizing the collective effort to prevent private equity from taking over the airline.