Military Evacuates Aircraft Ahead of Hurricane Milton Landfall

U.S. Air Force and Navy relocate KC-135 Stratotankers and F-16 fighter jets that sit directly in the storm’s path.

Tuesday, October 08, 2024 at 04:08 PM ET

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The U.S. Air Force is evacuating its fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers from MacDill Air Force base in Tampa, Florida. [Courtesy: Senior Airman Hiram Martinez/U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Space Force bases across Florida and southeast Georgia are undertaking extensive preparations for Hurricane Milton, including evacuating essential aircraft and closing facilities to nonessential personnel.
Specific actions include MacDill Air Force Base relocating KC-135 Stratotankers for the second time in weeks, Homestead Air Reserve Base moving F-16 fighters, and Naval Station Mayport securing its aircraft.
The hurricane's impact also extends to civilian operations, with NASA postponing the Europa Clipper launch at Kennedy Space Center, while NOAA's "hurricane hunters" fly into the storm to gather critical data.

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The U.S. Air Force and Navy are preparing for the impending Hurricane Milton by relocating essential aircraft.

Personnel at MacDill Air Force Base (KMCF) in Tampa, Florida, closed the base to all nonessential personnel on Tuesday and have begun evacuating aircraft for the second time in as many weeks following Hurricane Helene. The base avoided the worst of Helene but sits in the middle of Tampa Bay, directly in Milton’s projected path. It is also home to the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.