A Spirit Airlines pilot received a hero’s send-off with the help of a rival airline — and his first officer son — as his retirement flight was abruptly cut amid the carrier’s sudden shutdown.

Capt. Jon Jackson was scheduled to fly one last time for Spirit into Baltimore-Washington International on Saturday when the ultra-low-cost airline ceased operations and went out of business in the dead of night.

Jackson, left stranded by the permanent shutdown, hitched a ride with Southwest Airlines in Fort Lauderdale, riding alongside his son, Chris, who is a first officer, according to CNBC .

Spirit Airlines Capt. Jon Jackson is greeted by staff and passengers at Baltimore-Washington International on May 2, 2026. Southwest/Instagram

The doting son used his connections with his co-workers to develop a bittersweet send-off for his retiring father.

“Chris casually mentioned to the flight’s Pilots that this would have been his dad’s retirement flight.…