Spirit pilot gets ‘overwhelming’ send-off from Southwest after his final flight is cancelled

Southwest staff organized water cannon salute when aircraft arrived and Jon Jackson was met with cheers and applause

A Spirit Airlines pilot was given an emotional send-off into retirement by another airline after what was supposed to be his final flight was canceled amid Spirit’s sudden collapse on Saturday.

Jon Jackson had been scheduled to fly his final flight into Baltimore-Washington international airport on Saturday when the low-cost airline ceased operations after running out of cash and rescue talks with the Trump administration failed.