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 are undertaking extensive preparations for Hurricane Milton, including relocating essential aircraft and closing multiple bases across Florida and southeast Georgia.
MacDill Air Force Base, Homestead Air Reserve Base, and Naval Station Mayport are evacuating various aircraft like KC-135s and F-16s or securing them in hangars.
Patrick Space Force Base is closing to nonessential personnel, leading to the postponement of the NASA/SpaceX Europa Clipper launch at Kennedy Space Center.
NOAA's "hurricane hunters" are flying into the storm to help predict its trajectory, alongside widespread airport closures triggered by the hurricane.

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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.