Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday that the collapse of Spirit Airlines followed former President Joe Biden’s administration’s decision, alongside former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the U.S. Department of Justice, to block a proposed merger with JetBlue, after the airline ceased operations early Saturday morning and entered liquidation.

“The Joe Biden-Pete Buttigieg administration and DOJ tanked that deal,” Duffy said on ABC’s “This Week.” “Immediately after that, they filed for bankruptcy.”

Duffy’s remarks came as Spirit halted all flights at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday, closed call centers and ticket counters and began what he described as an “orderly liquidation process,” while federal officials and airlines moved to assist affected passengers.

Duffy said the shutdown left no operational support for travelers.

BUDGET AIRLINE BLASTED IN VIRAL VIDEO AS ‘PERFECT HONEYMOON WEEK’ ENDS IN TRAVEL CHAOS

“Spirit does not have airplanes in the air flying as of this morning,” Duffy said. “If you have a flight scheduled with Spirit Airlines, don’t show up at the airport. There will be no one here to assist you.”

The Department of Transportation coordinated with major carriers to mitigate disruptions, with airlines offering capped fares and discounted tickets for displaced passengers.

Duffy said multiple airlines stepped in to stabilize pricing and capacity in the immediate aftermath.

“United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest are capping their ticket prices,” Duffy said. “It is normally going to be about $200 for a one-way ticket.”

BUSINESS EXPERTS SAY BIDEN REGULATIONS HAVE STIFLED GROWTH: ‘AMERICA WANTS A DIFFERENT CHOICE’

Duffy tied the airline’s collapse to the blocked merger between JetBlue and Spirit, which had been challenged by the Justice Department under the Biden administration.

“There was a proposed merger between JetBlue and Spirit and Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg along with the Biden DOJ decided that they did not want that merger to take place,” Duffy said.

He added that officials at the time framed the decision as beneficial to consumers.

“They bragged and said this was a victory for U.S. travelers who deserve lower prices and better choices,” Duffy said. “This is not better for travelers. This is not better for pricing. This is not better for competition.”

SPIRIT AIRLINES FLIGHT FLYING IN VICINITY OF AIR FORCE ONE REPEATEDLY ORDERED TO TURN

Duffy said Spirit had faced financial instability prior to its shutdown, including multiple bankruptcy filings following the merger denial.

“Once the merger was denied in 2024, Spirit filed for bankruptcy immediately after the denial,” Duffy said.

He emphasized that the war with Iran was not the primary cause of the airline’s failure.

“Spirit was in dire straits long before the war with Iran,” Duffy said. “Their model wasn’t working. They couldn’t get to fiscal health.”

“We oftentimes don’t have a half a billion dollars laying around in a spare account that we can put into a bailout of an airline.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Biden and Buttigieg for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Ellen Burstyn is sharing her secrets to longevity at 93.

During a recent appearance on the “Literally! With Rob Lowe” podcast,” the actress, who recently released her new book “Poetry Says It Better: Poems to Help You Wake Up,” revealed the habits that she gave up to adopt the healthy lifestyle that has kept her thriving into her ninth decade.

“I don’t drink alcohol. I don’t smoke cigarettes anymore. I don’t smoke marijuana anymore,” the Oscar winner said.

She continued, “I don’t eat meat. I have a plant-based diet. I exercise, walk my dog several mornings a week or almost every morning a week, and have a trainer, workout in the gym.”

DICK VAN DYKE, 99, CREDITS DITCHING TWO BAD HABITS FOR HIS NEAR-CENTURY LONGEVITY

“So I live a healthy life and it pays off,” Burstyn added.

While appearing on “Live With Kelly and Mark” last Tuesday, “The Exorcist” star said that she still exercises every day, noting that she particularly enjoys taking walks in New York City’s Central Park.

“That’s how you get to be 93 and still kicking,” Burstyn told co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos.

JANE SEYMOUR’S KEY TO STAYING FIT AT 74 WITHOUT STRICT DIET

Burstyn previously opened up about her choice to embrace a healthy lifestyle during a 2023 conversation with her “Law and Order: Organized Crime” co-star Christopher Meloni for Interview magazine.

The “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” actress pointed to eating well, becoming a vegetarian and avoiding alcohol, smoking, and drugs as key decisions.

“That’s what I decided after doing all those bad things for a couple of decades,” she said.

Burstyn explained that she also keeps her mind active through reading, creative work and maintaining a social life.

At the time, Burstyn questioned if ageism in Hollywood is a myth and revealed that her career was busier than “ever” at the age of 90.

Burstyn expressed her surprise over being offered so many roles in her later years, telling Meloni, “This is so bizarre. I turn 91 in December and I’m busier than I can ever remember being at any point in my career.”

JANE SEYMOUR TELLS WOMEN TO ACT THEIR AGE AND NOT TO ‘PRETEND TO BE 20 WHEN YOU’RE 70’

“And I don’t understand it at all,” she continued. “I mean, what’s all this stuff about ageism in Hollywood? How did I get left out of it?”

When the 62-year-old actor asked Burstyn for her thoughts on the reason behind her continually robust career, the Michigan native offered one theory.

‘THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER’ REPLICATES 1973 HORROR MOVIE BY LEAVING VIEWERS ‘SHAKEN TO THEIR CORE’: FILMMAKERS

“I don’t know, except possibly that everybody else who could play those parts has already died, so I’m the only actress still standing who can play the great-grandmother or something,” she said.

After Meloni asked Burstyn asked what keeps her going and excited to work at her age, she shared that she begins every day with gratitude.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

“I try to have the first words out of my mouth be, ‘Thank you,’” she said. “Thank you that I’m alive. Thank you that I’m safe. Thank you that I’m healthy. Thank you that I’m 90 and still going. Thank you for my doggies. I mean, I have a lot to live in a state of gratitude for.”

In “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” Burstyn played Bernadette “Bernie” Stabler, the troubled, bipolar mother of Meloni’s character Detective Elliot Stabler. Burstyn originated the role during the tenth season of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” when she appeared in the episode “Swing,” earning the Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding guest actress in a series for her performance.

She became a recurring guest star in the “Law & Orde: Organized Crime” starting in the “Law & Order” spinoff’s second season in 2021.

Last month, NBC announced that it had canceled “Law & Order: Organized Crime” after five seasons.

Burstyn will next be seen in the upcoming drama film “Place To Be,” which also stars Taika Waititi, Pamela Anderson, Édgar Ramírez, Lena Waithe, Murray Bartlett and Maika Monroe.