Spirit Airlines Closure

     Spirit Airlines, the well-known airline with the iconic yellow planes and low budget pricing, had closed down due to bankruptcy and thin profit margins on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026. The airline itself has been filing chapter 11 bankruptcy since 2024, but the airline could not sustain itself any longer. Mergers and acquisitions were attempted in recent years such as a Jet Blue merger, a 90% acquisition by the US Federal Government, and a $335 million nonbinding crowd-sourcing campaign (as of writing). All of which were unfulfilled, and the airline had closed down.

    Many travelers were left stranded at terminals, some were unaware that their airline had abruptly shut down. On social media, there has been strong support to bring back the budget airline, but a variety of factors such as a history of unsuccessful mergers and current prices have potential to hold a resurrection of the airline back. 

     Fortunately, other airlines such as Delta, Frontier, and Jet Blue, have been helping and protecting travelers during the period following Spirit Airline’s closure. All three airlines have been covering previously Spirit held routes and they have given cheaper pricing to travelers affected by the closure. The best alternative to Spirit Airlines at the moment is Frontier Airlines in regards to the lowest prices.

Further Research:  Bankruptcy, Air Travel, Low-Cost Options

Hantavirus Outbreak 

    On May 2nd, 2026, the cruise ship, MV Honduras reported 7 cases of the Andes (South American) Hantavirus. The disease itself is primarily found in rodent droppings and infestations, and in extraordinarily rare cases, people can be infected with a hantavirus. A Dutch (Netherlands) Couple, known to be birdwatchers, brought the disease, unknowingly, onto the cruise ship.  Currently, some infected patients have been transported out of the ship into quarantine centers for immediate and intensive care, and many of the people who went on the cruise-liner for vacation are still on the vessel.

    Symptoms of the virus include fatigue, fever, aches of various kinds, disorientation, chills, abdominal issues, respiratory damage, and a 35% death rate (high). There is no cure to be given, but hospital care is beneficial.  Fortunately, the Andes Hantavirus has not been transmitted in the United States by humans, and various health organizations from the CDC to the WHO view traveling and transmission risks as low.

Further Research: Hantaviruses, Disease Outbreak, Rodents

Artemis II Updates

    The Artemis II launch and return has been a success for NASA and future space travel. During the Artemis II mission, four astronauts traveled in a spacecraft around the moon for 9-10 days (depending on rounding). The purpose of the mission was to experiment and evaluate the current state of technology at NASA’s disposal to prepare for the Artemis III & IV missions where NASA will make more tests and eventually set people to walk on the moon again, for the first time since 1972. 

    The splashdown occurred on Friday April 10th, and all four astronauts were rescued from the Orion Space Launch System. During the 9 day journey, the crew tested safety procedures, spacesuits, technology, and human tissue in zones of very low gravity. Seven thousand photos were captured during the lunar trip, and the crew traveled approximately 695, 081 miles in space, the furthest any people have gone before. NASA is currently designing the Artemis III mission set for late next year (as of writing).

Further Research: Space Exploration, NASA, Earth’s Moon

References

Cerullo, M., Cleave, K. Van, Jacobs, J., & Tanyos, F. (2026, May 3). Spirit Airlines shutting down after failed effort at government rescue deal [Fact sheet]. CBS News. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spirit-airlines-shutting-down-failed-rescue-deal/

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. (2026, May 6). Hantavirus-associated cluster of illness on a cruise ship: ECDC assessment and recommendations [Fact sheet]. ecdc.europa.eu. Retrieved May 11, 2026, from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/hantavirus-associated-cluster-illness-cruise-ship-ecdc-assessment-and

Kugel, S. (2026, May 1). Are you booked on Spirit? Here’s what you need to know. [Fact sheet]. New York Times Company. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/travel/spirit-airlines-bankruptcy-tickets-refunds.html

Stevens, B., & Kraft, R. (2026, May 7). NASA welcomes record-setting Artemis II moonfarers back to Earth [Press release]. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-welcomes-record-setting-artemis-ii-moonfarers-back-to-earth/

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, May 8). Hantavirus: Current situation [Fact sheet]. CDC.gov. Retrieved May 11, 2026, from https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/situation-summary/index.html

World Health Organization. (2026, May 8). Hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel, multi-country [Fact sheet]. WHO.int. Retrieved May 11, 2026, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON600