The U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron—nicknamed the “Hurricane Hunters”—hit heavy turbulence while flying through Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday and was forced to turn back.
In a statement, the 403rd Wing said one of the Hurricane Hunters’ aircraft was subjected to forces “stronger than normal” while entering the eye of the Category 5 storm. The crew flew back to its forward operating location in Curaçao, where the aircraft will be inspected for possible damage.
The Hurricane Hunters conduct weather reconnaissance missions, which involve flying into hurricanes and other storms. They operate a fleet of 10 Lockheed WC-130J aircraft.
Melissa is the strongest tropical cyclone of 2025 to date. The storm hit the southern coast of Jamaica on Tuesday and is expected to impact eastern Cuba, Haiti, and parts of the Bahamas.
The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday that Melissa made “one of the most powerful hurricane landfalls on record in the Atlantic,” with estimated maximum sustained wind speeds of 185 mph.
“This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation!” the center wrote to residents in the storm’s path. It advised finding shelter in an interior room without windows if possible and covering oneself with a mattress or wearing a helmet.
The New York Times reported Tuesday afternoon that, in the western part of Jamaica, the storm ripped roofs off buildings, knocked out power, and left roads and bridges in some neighborhoods impassable.
