Yes, that was known as a pre-packaged bankruptcy. AA's purchase of the assets was presented to the judge.

January 10, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. EST
NEW YORK, Jan. 10 -- -- American Airlines today announced an agreement to buy Trans World Airlines as part of a prearranged bankruptcy...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/ ... f9e56c81f/

The exclusivity period hadn't even started.