Heroic Effort by Spirit Airlines to Rescue Family

Image: PHOTO: Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 taking off. (photo via gk-6mt / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)
Image: PHOTO: Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 taking off. (photo via gk-6mt / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 6:17 PM ET, Mon July 6, 2020

Airlines normally take a beating in the court of public opinion for a variety of reasons - ancillary fees, delayed flights, shoddy refund policies, to name a few.

And, the last four months or so, they have taken a financial beating due to the coronavirus pandemic and lowered demand for travel.

So it's nice to see some positive news, and this piece of news just happens to be heroic.

Spirit Airlines diverted a flight to get a young girl the medical attention she needed. Then, a day later, after she quickly recovered, Spirit sent a plane back to pick up her and her family - a plane that was not a regularly scheduled flight.

Talk about coming to the rescue.

According to the aviation blog One Mile at a Time, Spirit Flight 3216 was scheduled to fly from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Philadelphia on June 30 when the young girl had a medical emergency. So the flight diverted to Providenciales, Turks & Caicos so that she could receive immediate medical treatment, and then continued on to Philadelphia.

Problem - the girl and her parents did not have passports to be in Turks & Caicos and, worse, due to the virus the airport in Providenciales was still closed to commercial flights.

Seemingly stuck on the island, the family was saved again by Spirit. The airline sent an unscheduled, empty plane back to Turks & Caicos the next day to pick up the family and take them home to San Juan.

Good news in the travel world - we love to see it.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Upcoming Webinar
Every Island Tells a Story: Part 2 – Selling the Caribbean Through Immersive ExperiencesWednesday, August 19, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Continue the journey in the second installment of our Every Island Tells a Story webinar series. This...
Upcoming Webinar
The Art of Destination Recommendation: Alternative Destination Strategies for Travel AdvisorsTuesday, August 18, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
What if your next best sale is a destination your client hasn’t considered—and you’ve never visited?...
Upcoming Webinar
From Interest to Booking: Selling HANKYU × PONANT Japan CruisesFriday, August 21, 2026
4:00pm Eastern
Take the next step in selling HANKYU × PONANT Japan cruises with a practical, advisor focused look at...
Upcoming Webinar
Every Island Tells a Story: Part 2 – Selling the Caribbean Through Immersive ExperiencesWednesday, August 19, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Continue the journey in the second installment of our Every Island Tells a Story webinar series. This...
Upcoming Webinar
The Art of Destination Recommendation: Alternative Destination Strategies for Travel AdvisorsTuesday, August 18, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
What if your next best sale is a destination your client hasn’t considered—and you’ve never visited?...
Upcoming Webinar
From Interest to Booking: Selling HANKYU × PONANT Japan CruisesFriday, August 21, 2026
4:00pm Eastern
Take the next step in selling HANKYU × PONANT Japan cruises with a practical, advisor focused look at...