Harrowing footage released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Aircraft Operations Center shows a research plane violently shaking from heavy turbulence as it flew directly into Hurricane Milton.
The view from the passenger side window of “Miss Piggy,” the Lockheed WP-3D Orion aircraft, shows the plane flying through an impenetrable gray sky as it is pounded by blistering rain.
The agency said the purpose of the trip was to collect data for hurricane research and help improve the storm’s forecast.
Inside the plane were at least four NOAA researchers.
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Electrical Engineer Tom Brannigan is seen sitting at the AVAPS (Airborne Vertical Atmospheric Profiling System) as the plane loudly shakes.
The turbulence quickly intensifies, causing a plastic bag tied to a shelf in front of the researcher to rotate 180 degrees, spilling its contents onto the floor.
“Can you grab my phone real quick?” asks Programs Integration Engineer Nick Underwood, who was filming the rocky flight.