UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. )*

                        LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                        ---------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                    Common Stock, Par Value $.0001 Per Share
                    ----------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    521863308
                                    ---------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                               James E. Kaye, Esq.
                       Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
                               590 Madison Avenue
                            New York, New York 10022
                                 (212) 872-1000
                   ------------------------------------------
                  (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                 August 16, 2004
                                 ---------------
                      (Date of Event which Requires Filing
                               of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the  acquisition  that is the subject of this  Schedule  13D, and is filing this
schedule because of ss.ss.240.13d-1(e),  240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the
following box [ ].

Note:  Schedules  filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the  schedule,  including  all exhibits.  See  ss.240.13d-7  for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for  any  subsequent   amendment   containing   information  which  would  alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).

                          Continued on following pages
                               Page 1 of 13 Pages
                             Exhibit Index: Page 12



                                  SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 521863308                                           Page 2 of 13 Pages

1        Names of Reporting Persons
         I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

                  MHR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS II LP

2        Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
                                                     a. [ ]
                                                     b. [X]

3        SEC Use Only

4        Source of Funds (See Instructions)

                  OO

5        Check if Disclosure of Legal  Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items
         2(d) or 2(e)

                  [ ]

6        Citizenship or Place of Organization

                  Delaware

                           7        Sole Voting Power
 Number of                                  3,340,378
    Shares
Beneficially               8        Shared Voting Power
 Owned By                                   0
    Each
 Reporting                 9        Sole Dispositive Power
   Person                                   3,340,378
    With
                           10       Shared Dispositive Power
                                            0

11       Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

                                            3,340,378

12       Check if the Aggregate  Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
         Instructions)

                                            [X]

13       Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

                                            5.57%

14       Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

                  PN



                                  SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 521863308                                           Page 3 of 13 Pages

1        Names of Reporting Persons
         I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

                  MHR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS IIA LP

2        Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
                                                     a. [ ]
                                                     b. [X]

3        SEC Use Only

4        Source of Funds (See Instructions)

                  OO

5        Check if Disclosure of Legal  Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items
         2(d) or 2(e)

                  [ ]

6        Citizenship or Place of Organization

                  Delaware

                           7        Sole Voting Power
 Number of                                  8,415,428
    Shares
Beneficially               8        Shared Voting Power
 Owned By                                   0
    Each
 Reporting                 9        Sole Dispositive Power
   Person                                   8,415,428
    With
                           10       Shared Dispositive Power
                                            0

11       Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

                                            8,415,428

12       Check if the Aggregate  Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
         Instructions)

                                            [X]

13       Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

                                            14.03%

14       Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

                  PN



                                  SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 521863308                                           Page 4 of 13 Pages

1        Names of Reporting Persons
         I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

                  MHR INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS II LLC

2        Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
                                                     a. [ ]
                                                     b. [X]

3        SEC Use Only

4        Source of Funds (See Instructions)

                  AF

5        Check if Disclosure of Legal  Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items
         2(d) or 2(e)

                  [ ]

6        Citizenship or Place of Organization

                  Delaware

                           7        Sole Voting Power
 Number of                                  11,755,806
    Shares
Beneficially               8        Shared Voting Power
 Owned By                                   0
    Each
 Reporting                 9        Sole Dispositive Power
   Person                                   11,755,806
    With
                           10       Shared Dispositive Power
                                            0

11       Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

                                            11,755,806

12       Check if the Aggregate  Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
         Instructions)

                                            [ ]

13       Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

                                            19.59%

14       Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

                  OO



                                  SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 521863308                                           Page 5 of 13 Pages

1        Names of Reporting Persons
         I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

                  MARK H. RACHESKY, M.D.

2        Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
                                                     a. [ ]
                                                     b. [X]

3        SEC Use Only

4        Source of Funds (See Instructions)

                  AF

5        Check if Disclosure of Legal  Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items
         2(d) or 2(e)

                  [ ]

6        Citizenship or Place of Organization

                  United States

                           7        Sole Voting Power
 Number of                                  11,755,806
    Shares
Beneficially               8        Shared Voting Power
 Owned By                                   0
    Each
 Reporting                 9        Sole Dispositive Power
   Person                                   11,755,806
    With
                           10       Shared Dispositive Power
                                            0

11       Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

                                            11,755,806

12       Check if the Aggregate  Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
         Instructions)

                                            [ ]

13       Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

                                            19.59%

14       Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

                  IN



                                                              Page 6 of 13 Pages

Item 1.  Security and Issuer

            This  Statement on Schedule  13D relates to shares of Common  Stock,
par value $0.0001 per share (the "Shares") of Leap Wireless International,  Inc.
(the "Issuer").  The address of the principal  executive office of the Issuer is
10307 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, California 92121.

Item 2.  Identity and Background

            This  Statement  is being  filed on behalf of each of the  following
persons (collectively, the "Reporting Persons"):

            (i) MHR Institutional Partners II LP ("Institutional Partners II");

            (ii) MHR  Institutional  Partners  IIA LP  ("Institutional  Partners
                 IIA");

            (iii)MHR  Institutional  Advisors  II LLC  ("Institutional  Advisors
                 II"); and

            (iv) Mark H. Rachesky, M.D. ("Dr. Rachesky").

            This  Statement  relates  to the  Shares  held for the  accounts  of
Institutional Partners II and Institutional Partners IIA.

                              The Reporting Persons

            Institutional   Partners  II  and  Institutional  Partners  IIA  are
Delaware limited  partnerships.  The principal business of each of Institutional
Partners II and Institutional Partners IIA is investment in securities.

            Institutional  Advisors II is a Delaware limited liability  company.
In its capacity as the general partner of each of Institutional  Partners II and
Institutional  Partners IIA,  Institutional  Advisors II may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of securities held for the accounts of  Institutional  Partners
II and  Institutional  Partners  IIA. The  principal  business of  Institutional
Advisors II is to provide  management  and  advisory  services to  Institutional
Partners II and Institutional  Partners IIA. Current information  concerning the
identity and background of the directors and officers of Institutional  Advisors
II is set  forth in  Annex A  hereto,  which is  incorporated  by  reference  in
response to this Item 2.

            Dr. Rachesky is the managing member of Institutional Advisors II. In
such  capacity,  Dr.  Rachesky  may be  deemed  to be the  beneficial  owner  of
securities held for the accounts of Institutional  Partners II and Institutional
Partners IIA. The principal occupation of Dr. Rachesky, a United States citizen,
is investment management.

            Each Reporting  Person's  principal business address is 40 West 57th
Street, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10019.

            During the past five years,  none of the  Reporting  Persons and, to
the best of the  Reporting  Persons'  knowledge,  no other person  identified in
response to this Item 2 has been (a)  convicted in a criminal  proceeding or (b)
been a party to any  civil  proceeding  as a  result  of which he or it has been
subject to a judgment,  decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or
prohibiting  or mandating  activities  subject to,  federal or state  securities
laws, or finding any violation with respect to such laws.



                                                              Page 7 of 13 Pages

Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

            On  August  16,   2004,   the  Fifth   Amended  and  Joint  Plan  of
Reorganization dated as of July 30, 2003, including certain technical amendments
thereto  (the  "Plan"),  of  the  Issuer,   Cricket   Communications,   Inc.,  a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Issuer  ("Cricket"),  and  substantially  all of
their subsidiaries  became effective,  and such entities emerged from Chapter 11
bankruptcy  proceedings  pending in the United States  Bankruptcy  Court for the
Southern  District of California (San Diego).  Prior to the effectiveness of the
Plan,  Comm  Investors LLC and Geostar  Investors  LLC, each a Delaware  limited
liability  company  wholly-owned by Institutional  Partners II and Institutional
Partners IIA, held an aggregate of  $328,537,370  in secured claims as creditors
of the Issuer and its subsidiaries (the "Secured Debt").  Upon the effectiveness
of the Plan,  the Secured  Debt was  converted  into  Shares of the  reorganized
Issuer and Cricket 13% Senior Secured Pay-in-Kind Notes due August 16, 2011 (the
"Senior  Notes").  Comm  Investors  LLC and Geostar  Investors  LLC  immediately
transferred  such  Shares  and Senior  Notes to  Institutional  Partners  II and
Institutional Partners IIA in proportion to their respective ownership interests
in Comm Investors LLC and Geostar Investors LLC as follows: (i) 3,340,378 Shares
and $20,192,219 principal amount of Senior Notes to the account of Institutional
Partners II and (ii) 8,415,428 Shares and $50,870,349 principal amount of Senior
Notes to the account of Institutional Partners IIA.

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction

            Dr.  Rachesky  was elected as a member of the Board of  Directors of
the Issuer,  effective  August 19,  2004.  In his  capacity as a Director of the
Issuer,  Dr.  Rachesky may have influence  over the corporate  activities of the
Issuer,  including  activities  which may relate to  transactions  described  in
Subparagraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

            All of the Shares  reported  herein as having been  acquired  for or
disposed of from the  accounts of  Institutional  Partners II and  Institutional
Partners IIA were acquired or disposed of for investment  purposes.  Neither the
Reporting  Persons  nor,  to the  best  of  their  knowledge,  any of the  other
individuals  identified in response to Item 2 hereof, has any plans or proposals
that  relate  to or  would  result  in  any  of the  transactions  described  in
subparagraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

            The Reporting  Persons reserve the right to acquire,  or cause to be
acquired,  additional  securities  of the Issuer,  to dispose of, or cause to be
disposed,  such securities at any time or to formulate other purposes,  plans or
proposals  regarding the Issuer or any of its  securities,  to the extent deemed
advisable in light of general  investment and trading  policies of the Reporting
Persons, market conditions or other factors.

Item 5.  Interest in Securities of the Issuer

            The  percentages  set  forth  herein  assume  that  the  Issuer  has
60,000,000 Shares outstanding as of the date hereof.

            (a)   (i)  Institutional  Partners  II  may  be  deemed  to  be  the
beneficial owner of 3,340,378 Shares (approximately 5.57% of the total number of
Shares outstanding).

                  (ii)  Institutional  Partners  IIA  may  be  deemed  to be the
beneficial owner of 8,415,428 Shares  (approximately  14.03% of the total number
of Shares outstanding).

                  (iii) Each of  Institutional  Advisors II and Dr. Rachesky may
be deemed the beneficial owner of 11,755,806 Shares (approximately 19.59% of the



                                                              Page 8 of 13 Pages

total number of Shares outstanding). This number consists of A) 3,340,378 Shares
held for the account of  Institutional  Partners II and B) 8,415,428 Shares held
for the account of Institutional Partners IIA.

            (b)   (i)  Institutional Partners II may be  deemed to have the sole
power to direct the  voting  and  disposition  of the  3,340,378  Shares for the
account of Institutional Partners II.

                  (ii) Institutional Partners IIA may be deemed to have the sole
power to direct the  voting  and  disposition  of the  8,415,428  Shares for the
account of Institutional Partners IIA.

                  (iii) Each of  Institutional  Advisors II and Dr. Rachesky may
be deemed  to have the sole  power to  direct  the  voting  and  disposition  of
11,755,806  Shares.  This number  consists of A)  3,340,378  Shares held for the
account  of  Institutional  Partners  II and B)  8,415,428  Shares  held for the
account of Institutional Partners IIA.

            (c)   Other  than as disclosed  in Item 3 hereof, there have been no
transactions  with  respect to the Shares  since June 27, 2004 (60 days prior to
the date hereof) by any of the Reporting Persons.

            (d)   (i) The   partners  of  each  of   Institutional  Partners  II
and Institutional  Partners IIA, including  Institutional  Advisors II, have the
right to participate in the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from the sale
of, the securities held for the account of each of Institutional Partners II and
Institutional  Partners  IIA,  as the  case may be,  in  accordance  with  their
respective  partnership interests in Institutional Partners II and Institutional
Partners IIA.

                  (ii) The members of  Institutional  Advisors II have the right
to participate  in the receipt of dividends  from, or proceeds from the sale of,
the securities held for the account of  Institutional  Advisors II in accordance
with their membership interests in Institutional Advisors II.

            (e)   Not Applicable.

Item 6.  Contracts,  Arrangements,  Understandings or Relationships with Respect
         to Securities of the Issuer.

            On  August  16,  2004,  the  Issuer,   Institutional   Partners  II,
Institutional  Partners IIA and Highland Capital Management,  L.P.  ("Highland")
entered  into  a  Registration   Rights  Agreement  (the  "Registration   Rights
Agreement," a copy of which is incorporated by reference hereto as Exhibit B and
is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 6). Pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement,  the Issuer granted demand registration rights to
Institutional  Partners II, Institutional Partners IIA and Highland with respect
to the Shares  acquired  by such  entities  under the Plan (as defined in Item 3
hereof) and agreed to prepare and file a shelf  registration  statement covering
such Shares. The Issuer is obligated to file this shelf  registration  statement
within  30 days  following  the  issuance  by the  Issuer's  independent  public
accountants of an audit report concerning the Issuer's  "fresh-start"  financial
statements.  The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement does
not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of such
document which are incorporated herein by reference.

            As  noted  in  Item  3  hereof,   Institutional   Partners   II  and
Institutional Partners IIA own principal amounts of $20,192,219 and $50,870,349,
respectively, of Senior Notes.



                                                              Page 9 of 13 Pages

            From  time to time each of the  Reporting  Persons  may  enter  into
derivative securities transactions or other hedging arrangements with respect to
securities held for its account.  Each Reporting Person may also lend securities
held for its account to brokers,  banks or other financial  institutions.  These
loans  typically  obligate  the borrower to return the  securities,  or an equal
amount of securities of the same class, to the lender and typically provide that
the borrower is entitled to exercise voting rights and retain  dividends  during
the term of the loan.  From time to time, to the extent  permitted by applicable
law, each of the Reporting Persons may borrow securities,  including the Shares,
for the purpose of effecting,  and may effect, short sale transactions,  and may
purchase  securities for the purpose of closing out short sale positions in such
securities.

            Except as set forth herein,  the  Reporting  Persons do not have any
contracts,  arrangements,  understandings  or relationships  with respect to any
securities of the Issuer.

Item 7.  Material to be Filed as Exhibits

            The Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.


                                                             Page 10 of 13 Pages

                                   SIGNATURES

            After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the  undersigned  certifies that the  information set forth in this Statement is
true, complete and correct.

Date:  August 26, 2004              MHR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS II LP

                                    By:      MHR Institutional Advisors II LLC,
                                             its General Partner


                                    By:      /s/ Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             Managing Member


                                    MHR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS IIA LP

                                    By:      MHR Institutional Advisors II LLC,
                                             its General Partner


                                    By:      /s/ Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             Managing Member


                                    MHR INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS II LLC

                                    By:      /s/ Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             Managing Member


                                    MARK H. RACHESKY, M.D.

                                    By:      /s/ Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             -----------------------------------


                                                             Page 11 of 13 Pages

                                     ANNEX A

           Directors and Officers of MHR Institutional Advisors II LLC


Name/Citizenship        Principal Occupation     Business Address
----------------        --------------------     ----------------

Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.  President and Managing   40 West 57th Street, 24th Floor
(United States)         Member                   New York, New York 10019


Hal Goldstein           Managing Principal       40 West 57th Street, 24th Floor
(United States)                                  New York, New York 10019


            Except as otherwise set forth  herein,  to the best of the Reporting
Persons' knowledge:

                  (a) Other than as disclosed  herein, none of the above persons
            holds any Shares.

                  (b) None of the above persons has any contracts, arrangements,
            understandings or relationships with respect to any Shares.


                                                             Page 12 of 13 Pages

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                                        Page No.
                                                                        --------
A.       Joint Filing Agreement,  dated as of August 26, 2004, by
         and  among  MHR   Institutional   Partners  II  LP,  MHR
         Institutional   Partners   IIA  LP,  MHR   Institutional
         Advisors    II    LLC    and    Mark    H.     Rachesky,
         M.D......................................................            13

B.       Registration  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of August 16,
         2004,  by  and  among  the  Issuer,   MHR  Institutional
         Partners II LP, MHR  Institutional  Partners  IIA LP and
         Highland Capital Management, L.P. .......................             *

* Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Leap Wireless
International,  Inc. with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on August 20,
2004.


                                                             Page 13 of 13 Pages

                                    EXHIBIT A

                             JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

            The undersigned hereby agree that the Statement on Schedule 13D with
respect to the Common Stock of Leap Wireless  International,  Inc.,  dated as of
August 26,  2004,  is,  and any  amendments  thereto  (including  amendments  on
Schedule  13G) signed by each of the  undersigned  shall be,  filed on behalf of
each of us pursuant to and in  accordance  with the  provisions of Rule 13d-1(k)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Date:  August 26, 2004              MHR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS II LP

                                    By:      MHR Institutional Advisors II LLC,
                                             its General Partner


                                    By:      /s/ Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             Managing Member


                                    MHR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS IIA LP

                                    By:      MHR Institutional Advisors II LLC,
                                             its General Partner


                                    By:      /s/ Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             Managing Member


                                    MHR INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS II LLC

                                    By:      /s/ Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             Managing Member


                                    MARK H. RACHESKY, M.D.

                                    By:      /s/ Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
                                             -----------------------------------