Watch: Retiring Pilot Given Water Cannon Salute At BWI Marshall Airport

ODENTON, MD — A retiring Spirit Airlines pilot who was set to fly his final flight into BWI Marshall Airport over the weekend had his plans severely rerouted after the airline announced it was shuttering operations.

But, it wasn't all tears in the end as Southwest Airlines swooped in to give Captain Jon Jackson a proper retirement send-off. In fact, there were cheers and laughter.

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Jackson's son, Chris, serves as a first officer for Southwest Airlines. But, rather than just having his father catch a ride home as a Southwest passenger, he let it slip to fellow pilots that his dad missed his shot at captaining one more flight.

The pilots "seized the opportunity to change the course of the day for Capt. Jackson," reads a post by Southwest Airlines. "They alerted Dylan, a Southwest dispatcher, setting into motion a plan that resulted in a proper retirement party when the flight landed in Baltimore."

Video of the send-off can be viewed below:

As the flight pulled in to BWI Marshall Airport, it was met with a traditional water cannon salute from the Baltimore Airport Fire and Rescue team.

And that wasn't all. Jackson was gifted a "bottle of bubbly" by the Baltimore Ground Operations Team as he walked to the airport's Gate A9.

"This is very overwhelming. I can't thank you all enough," Jackson told staffers. "As Spirit goes down, this is a sad day, and you guys made it incredible."

In its own statement, Southwest Airlines acknowledged that the recognition was a "powerful reminder of the aviation community's ability to show respect, compassion, and solidarity when it matters most."

Related:

• Spirit Airlines To End Operations, Cancels All Flights

Spirit announced Saturday that it would be ceasing all operations effective immediately after serving as one of the industry's discount airlines for more than 30 years.

Talks had been ongoing for a possible rescue plan for the airline, including a government bailout which did not come to fruition. Competitors are working to fill the gap left behind by Spirit, going so far as to offer capped ticket prices.