ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 <\/p>\n
The fallout continues at Orlando International Airport after the sudden shutdown of Spirit Airlines.<\/p>\n
Thousands of travelers were stranded when Spirit abruptly cancelled all flights over the weekend.<\/p>\n
With the shutdown of global operations, Spirit became the first major U.S. airline in 25 years to go out of business because of financial problems.<\/p>\n
Michael Wilkes was searching for a flight back home to Dallas after learning his return trip on Spirit was cancelled.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m stranded, no way home. Now I\u2019ve got to go out of pocket and obtain an airfare through another airline,” Wilkes said. \u201cWe\u2019re here trying to get home after a two-week-long vacation, and this is our reward from Spirit. Thanks, Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
There has been finger-pointing on both sides of the political spectrum for the airline\u2019s demise.<\/p>\n
Republicans have blamed the Biden Administration for blocking Spirit\u2019s plan to merge with JetBlue. Democrats and the airline\u2019s CEO have said skyrocketing jet fuel costs led to the airline ceasing operations.<\/p>\n
As stranded passengers have been working to rebook flights, some have turned to each other for help.<\/p>\n
Mitch Groome and his wife bought a ticket on Southwest Airlines for a woman who said she didn\u2019t have money to book a flight back home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just feel bad. We\u2019re all stranded, and she\u2019s trying to get home,\u201d Groome said. \u201cI know how stressful it is because I\u2019m in the same position. So I just thought, let me help her out. Pay for her ticket just so she\u2019ll get home safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
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