Former Spirit Airlines Workers Sue for Back Pay After Sudden Shutdown

A group of former Spirit Airlines employees is suing the now-defunct carrier for back pay, unpaid hours, and unused vacation days after the airline abruptly shut down earlier this month.

Six plaintiffs filed the lawsuit, claiming Spirit broke the law by failing to give workers proper notice before laying them off. Federal law generally requires large employers to notify workers in advance of mass layoffs, though Spirit did not do so, according to the suit.

The workers also say the airline actively misled them in its final days, telling employees it planned to keep flying and to ignore media reports that a shutdown was coming. Shortly after, Spirit ceased all operations.

The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York's bankruptcy court and is seeking class-action status, which could expand it to cover roughly 17,000 workers who lost their jobs when the airline folded. A Spirit spokesperson said the company does not comment on pending litigation.