Spirit Airlines has unleashed a storm of criticism after one of their flights was spotted flying into Hurricane Erin as it rampaged through the Caribbean.
On Monday, airline-tracking website Flightradar24 posted on social media how Spirit flight NK2298 from Philadelphia to San Juan, Puerto Rico flew straight into the first major hurricane of 2025.
At the time, the hurricane was barreling over Turks and Caicos Islands as a Category 4 storm, with winds exceeding 130 mph.
The Airbus A320-271N left Philadelphia at 1:34 pm ET and was scheduled to arrive in San Juan just after 5 pm.
While it's not known how many passengers were on board at the time, an Airbus 320 can typically hold between 150 and 180 people.
Despite flying for several miles through Hurricane Erin, Spirit Airlines told the Daily Mail that no injuries were reported, and the plane arrived safely at its destination.
Spirit's senior media relations specialist Tommy Fletcher said: 'Safety is always our top priority. Our Pilots followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to San Juan (SJU).'
'Our Operations Control Center closely tracks weather systems and works with our Pilots and ATC to determine flight paths that safely navigate around or above adverse weather conditions,' the airline spokesperson added.
Despite Spirit's assurances that the flight to Puerto Rico went as planned, critics on social media have been roasting the discount airline's decision to fly through an active Category 4 storm.
'They're going to charge extra for the hurricane experience,' one person on X joked.
'Spirit just really wanted to give them that low class experience,' another X user mocked.
'Did Spirit take up the Hurricane Hunter mission?' Flightradar24 sarcastically asked in their own post Monday.
Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy in November 2024 due to financial problems, including high operating costs, competition with other airlines, and their business model which relies on tack-on charges for services such as carry-on bags, checked luggage, seat selection, and onboard refreshments.
While Spirit's base charges for seats have remained low, the added expenses for everything else has led to widespread frustration from customers.
'Seat: $24... Hurricane experience: $125,000 surcharge,' another critic posted on X.
Spirit has also faced fierce criticism from travelers over incidents involving rude staff, inconsistent service, and frequent delays and cancellations with minimal compensation for passengers.
Although the plane was not damaged and no one was hurt Monday, safety officials have warned that flying through a hurricane can be extremely hazardous.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has noted that winds over 130 mph can create severe turbulence, which could destabilize an aircraft, stress its airframe, and make it difficult for pilots to maintain control.
Hurricanes also produce frequent lightning strikes, which can damage aircraft electronics, navigation systems, or their fuel tanks.
While modern jets have lightning protection, the intensity and frequency of strikes in a hurricane increase the risk of system failures.
The NHC said Wednesday that Erin is now moving north-northwest, closer to the East Coast, but is expected to turn north and recurve, avoiding a direct US landfall.
However, the hurricane's proximity is creating hazardous conditions along the US coastline. Waves of 15 to 20 feet are expected, and heavy coastal erosion is likely in North Carolina as the storm moves slowly offshore over the next several days.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted an 'above average' hurricane season that will likely result in more named storms than there were in 2024, when 18 such storms were tracked.
In May, NOAA predicted up to 19 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes affecting the US this year.
Major airports along the East Coast have already seen thousands of delays and cancellations this summer for storm systems that didn't involve hurricanes.
