A U.S. Air Force Reserve crew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” flew through Hurricane Melissa on Oct. 27, 2025

Unusually heavy turbulence forced an Air Force WC-130 Hurricane Hunter aircraft to turn back from Hurricane Melissa and return to base to check for damage, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron said.

The WC-130 was entering the eye of Melissa Tuesday when it “briefly experienced forces stronger than normal due to turbulence,” the 53rd said in a social media post.

The crew of the plane, whose call sign was TEAL 75, returned to its forward operating location in Curacao, where it will be inspected before resuming flights.

The 53rd said the plane may not have been damaged by the heavy turbulence, but standard safety procedures c

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