WILLEMSTAD - A U.S. Air Force Reserve crew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” was forced to return to Curaçao on Tuesday morning after encountering dangerous turbulence while flying into the eye of Hurricane Melissa over the Caribbean Sea.
The reconnaissance team, which operates out of Hato International Airport, had been collecting critical weather data for the National Hurricane Center (NHC) when the aircraft experienced “forces stronger than normal”, according to a statement released by the squadron. The crew decided to abort the mission and return to Curaçao for safety inspections before continuing further operations.
A similar incident occurred on Monday, when another Hurricane Hunters flight also cut short its mission after facing extreme turbulence while penetrating the storm. Despite the hazardous conditions, the Air Force shared dramatic footage showing the crew flying through the hurricane’s eye multiple times throughout the day.
Curaçao as a Strategic Hub
Curaçao serves as a strategic operating base for the U.S. Air Force’s weather reconnaissance missions in the region, particularly during the Atlantic hurricane season. The island’s location allows rapid deployment of flights into tropical systems affecting the eastern and southern Caribbean.
Hurricane Melissa Intensifies
According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Melissa has developed a well-defined 10-nautical-mile eye and has intensified into one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Caribbean, with winds reaching 185 mph (297 km/h) on Tuesday morning.
The storm is moving at about 9 mph toward Jamaica, where it is forecast to become the most destructive hurricane in the island’s history, bringing catastrophic winds, flooding, and storm surges.
Melissa is expected to cross eastern Cuba on Tuesday night or early Wednesday before moving near or over the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos on Wednesday. The storm could reach the vicinity of Bermuda by Thursday night.
While Curaçao remains well outside the storm’s direct path, authorities are closely monitoring weather developments as the island continues to play a vital role in supporting reconnaissance and humanitarian coordination efforts for regional disaster preparedness.
