Watch: Why US Air Force plane flew into the eye of Hurricane Melissa
The clips, filmed by a US Air Force “Hurricane Hunter” crew, shows a rare weather phenomenon known as the “stadium effect” — towering cloud walls curving around a tranquil, blue centre — as their aircraft sliced through the storm’s core.
New Delhi,October 28, 2025 06:04 PM IST
First published on: Oct 28, 2025 at 05:14 PM IST
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A US Air Force Reserve crew known as the "Hurricane Hunters" flew through the eye of Hurricane Melissa on Monday to collect data for the National Hurricane Center. (X/@FlynonymousWX)
A US Air Force plane flew into the eye of world’s strongest storm in 2025 – Hurricane Melissa on Monday to collect vital data for the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The clips, filmed by a US Air Force “Hurricane Hunter” crew, shows a rare weather phenomenon known as the “stadium effect” — towering cloud walls curving around a tranquil, blue centre — as their aircraft sliced through the storm’s core.
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“Third pass through Melissa. GoPro in side window as different camera looking forward shooting in ultra high res 8K,” wrote storm chaser and pilot @FlynonymousWX on X, describing the flight as “very powerful but relatively straightforward” compared to earlier missions that encountered “nasty meso activity.”
Third pass through Melissa. GoPro in side window as different camera looking forward shooting in ultra high res 8k. Not sure when that might get processed as the file turned out ridiculous. Barely had HD space for it and MacBook Pro promptly chocked when I tried to edit it pic.twitter.com/3p430gPvZv
The footage, captured by the US Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, based in Mississippi, was part of a data-gathering mission for the US National Hurricane Center, which relies on these high-risk flights to model a storm’s strength, direction and impact.
With wind speeds of up to 175mph (282km/h), the category five hurricane is the world’s strongest storm of 2025.
Jamaica battered by strongest storm in 174 years
Melissa made landfall in Jamaica early Tuesday, lashing the island with winds and relentless rain. The National Hurricane Center warned of “catastrophic and life-threatening” flooding, landslides, and storm surges as high as 13 feet along Jamaica’s southern coast.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness called it “the most violent hurricane in our recorded history,” warning that “no infrastructure in the region can withstand a Category 5. The question now is the speed of recovery — that’s the challenge.”
Authorities have confirmed at least three storm-related deaths and reported landslides, widespread power outages, and extensive damage. “It’s nothing to play with,” said Environment Minister Matthew Samuda, urging residents to remain indoors.
Cuba and the Bahamas brace for impact
After devastating Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa is now barreling toward eastern Cuba and the Bahamas. Cuban officials have begun evacuating more than 600,000 people from low-lying coastal areas in Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo, warning of flooding and storm surges reaching up to 20 inches.
Across the Caribbean, Melissa has already claimed at least seven lives — three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic — while displacing thousands. Haitian authorities reported extensive crop losses and flooding, worsening an already severe hunger crisis.
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A US Air Force Reserve crew known as the "Hurricane Hunters" flew through the eye of Hurricane Melissa on Monday to collect data for the National Hurricane Center. (X/@FlynonymousWX) 
