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New Delhi: Spirit Airlines is standing at a massive crossroads, and the stakes couldn’t be much higher, as more than 17,000 employees would go jobless. As the airline struggles through bankruptcy, a potential $500 million financing deal from the Trump administration has emerged as a possible lifeline in the grave.

However, while the money could keep the planes in the sky but it has sparked a heated debate over who really benefits from a taxpayer-funded rescue.

On Friday, the union representing Spirit’s ramp service workers made their stance crystal clear that any government intervention must come with a guarantee for the workforce. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) isn’t just looking for a check rather, they are demanding a total ban on layoffs. For them, the memory of pandemic-era bailouts is still fresh and they want similar strings attached, settuing limits on executive bonuses and a block on stock buybacks.

The proposed deal is far from a standard loan. Sources suggest the government is looking to take a staggering 90% equity stake in the airline. US President Trump hinted at the logic behind this move earlier this week, suggesting the government could buy in now while oil prices are high and sell the carrier for a profit once fuel costs inevitably drop. It’s a high-stakes gamble that essentially turns a private airline into a government-backed project.

Despite the plan has a potential to save thousands of livelihoods it is facing some serious turbulence within the Republican Party as some critics argue that the government shouldn’t be in the business, fearing it sets a risky precedent for the rest of the aviation industry.

Lawyers for the airline Marshall Huebner have warned that the company needs access to roughly $240 million by the end of next week just to keep the lights on. If the creditors and the government can’t shake hands on a deal soon then the big layoffs which everyone is fearing might become an unavoidable reality rather than just a threat. For the 17,000 people who keep Spirit running, the next few days will determine whether they still have a desk or a cockpit to return to.