A terrifying moment was caught on camera as Hurricane hunters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) were thrown around when they flew a plane into the huge Category 5 Hurricane Milton.
The scientists were collecting data from the storm as the aircraft approached Florida’s western coast on Tuesday.
Researchers on board the plane – dubbed “Miss Piggy” – had a bumpy ride through the storm’s 155mph (249kph) winds.
At one moment in the video, the hurricane shakes the plane so violently that equipment — along with a researcher’s phone and wallet — are thrown around inside the cabin.
Debris can be seen around the Hurricane hunters after items were jolted across the aircraft.
The hurricane, with wind speeds up to 165mph, is set to hit the Tampa region late Wednesday evening.
Having already developed into one of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record, Milton threatens a stretch of Florida’s densely populated west coast – which is still reeling from the devastating Hurricane Helene which smashed into it fewer than two weeks ago.
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Britons trapped in Florida have to barricade themselves in hotel as flights home were cancelled amidst ‘catastrophic’ Hurricane Milton
A British family trapped in Florida have been forced to barricade themselves inside their hotel as Hurricane Milton approaches the sunshine stateReuters
A British family trapped in Florida has been forced to barricade themselves inside their hotel as Hurricane Milton approaches the sunshine state.
The party of nine from Colchester have found themselves among those stranded, with flights cancelled and Orlando International Airport closed.
Racheal Harris, 36, her husband Jamie, 34, along with their three-year-old son Maximus are preparing to weather the category-5 storm from their hotel room in Orlando.