A video about Spirit Airlines Flight 861 has gone viral, and many people are asking Is Spirit 861 real or fake? The clip shows a dramatic situation where a Spirit pilot argues with air traffic control, claiming he has to land because he is carrying a donor heart, while ATC insists he must hold because the President is on the runway. But is this story true? Let’s find out.
What the Viral Video Shows
The video mixes real footage of Spirit Airlines planes with audio that sounds like an intense argument between the pilot and air traffic control.
- The pilot is heard saying he cannot wait because of the medical urgency.
- Air traffic control warns him that he could be fired or arrested if he lands.
- The clip ends with the suggestion that the plane still landed despite the orders.
This made many people believe the incident really happened.
Spirit 861 Real or Fake
The answer is fake.
Fact-checkers, including Lead Stories and Snopes, confirmed that the video is not real.
Here’s why:
- No news reports or airline statements support the claim. If such a dramatic event happened, it would be covered widely.
- The content creator who posted the video is known for making fictional aviation content labeled as entertainment.
- The audio is fabricated and does not come from any real flight recording.
Why Did People Believe It?
The video seemed real because:
- It used actual Spirit Airlines visuals.
- The audio was edited in a way that sounded authentic.
- People on social media shared it quickly without checking the facts.
This shows how easily misinformation spreads online.
Conclusion
The viral story about Spirit 861 is completely fake. The dramatic audio was made for entertainment, not from a real flight. Spirit Airlines has not reported any such incident, and there is no record of it happening.