Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Disrupts Flights and Shuts Down Caribbean Airports

Hurricane Melissa has emerged as the strongest tropical cyclone of 2025, causing significant disruptions to air travel and forcing several Caribbean islands to close their airports. This has resulted in widespread flight cancellations across the region.

Rated as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, Melissa has unleashed perilous winds nearing 300 km/h, accompanied by severe storm surges and heavy rainfall, according to a recent statement from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) dated October 28, 2025.

Hurricane Melissa is the most powerful storm to affect Jamaica since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and is projected to “break many records,” as noted by WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. It has surpassed Typhoon Ragusa, which impacted the Northwest Pacific in September 2025, establishing itself as the strongest storm of the year.

As of now, Hurricane Melissa has already passed Jamaica, where it inflicted major damage upon making landfall, and has hit Cuba with relentless winds of 120 mph. Following Cuba, the hurricane is anticipated to advance toward the Bahamas and Bermuda.

Hurricane Melissa Viewed from the Sky

Footage shared on X captures Hurricane Melissa from an aircraft window.

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

— Tropical Cowboy of Danger (@FlynonymousWX) October 27, 2025

In a related incident, crew members from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as TEAL 75, encountered severe turbulence while flying into the eye of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. This unit is part of the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters.

😳 Video from inside the plane of the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, which flew inside the eye of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa.

No Freaking Way 🤢 pic.twitter.com/uMrxUgG1T7

— JC Vollentine (@Theonlyjcvolly) October 29, 2025

Operating from its base in Curaçao, the squadron experienced unprecedented conditions during the hurricane, necessitating a precautionary inspection of the aircraft before resuming their mission.

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is based at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi and specializes in monitoring and studying severe tropical cyclones.

Hurricane Melissa Shuts Caribbean Airports

As the hurricane swept across Jamaica for several hours on October 28, 2025, it left the island heavily damaged. Jamaican officials announced the closure of the main airports and issued emergency orders to safeguard the public.

Sangster International Airport (MBJ), situated on Jamaica’s northwestern coast, has been closed since noon on October 26, 2025. The airport mentioned the closure is temporary and promised updates regarding its reopening once the storm has passed.

Recent footage on social media highlights significant flooding at Sangster International Airport, with water leaking through damaged ceilings and structural damage evident throughout the terminal.

Footage from inside Sangster International Airport shows rain pouring through missing ceiling panels and flooding parts of the departure lounge after Hurricane Melissa ripped through western Jamaica earlier today.

The Category 5 storm made landfall in St Elizabeth around 11… pic.twitter.com/arykkXzMB7

— Jamaica Observer (@JamaicaObserver) October 29, 2025

Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, has also been shut down, with officials promising to alert passengers when it can reopen, based on post-storm assessments.

Meanwhile, Cuba’s Ministry of Transportation has suspended flight services in the eastern regions. Antonio Maceo International Airport (SCU) in Santiago de Cuba and Frank Pais International Airport (HOG) have closed their airspace from October 28 to October 30, 2025.

Other Cuban airports, including Sierra Maestra Airport (MZO), Gustavo Rizo Airport (BCA), and Ignacio Agramonte Airport (CMW), may also be affected depending on Melissa’s trajectory.

The Airport Authority of the Bahamas declared temporary closures for southern and central areas due to Hurricane Melissa. Exuma International Airport (GGT) closed at 8:00 PM local time on October 28, 2025, with plans to reopen by 2:00 PM on October 30, 2025. However, Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) is still operational.

Melissa Triggers Mass Flight Cancellations

Numerous major airlines operating in the Caribbean are actively adjusting their schedules and providing travel advisories to passengers.

American Airlines has issued a travel alert stating that it is closely monitoring Hurricane Melissa. This alert, activated on October 24, 2025, now applies to eight airports located within the storm’s expected path.

These airports include Ocho Rios, Jamaica (OCJ), George Town, Bahamas (GGT), Holguin, Cuba (HOG), Kingston, Jamaica (KIN), Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ), Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (PLS), Santiago de Cuba, Cuba (SCU), and South Caicos, Turks and Caicos (XSC).

JetBlue has canceled all flights to and from Kingston and Montego Bay for October 28 and 29, 2025.

Southwest Airlines has also warned that the weather forecast from October 25 to November 1, 2025, could disrupt flights to Montego Bay and Providenciales, resulting in delays, diversions, or cancellations.

Delta Airlines has signaled that travel to, from, or through Kingston, Montego Bay, and Providenciales may experience disruptions from October 25 to 30, 2025.

Virgin Atlantic has canceled flights VS165 and VS166 scheduled for October 27 and 28, 2025, due to adverse weather conditions linked to Hurricane Melissa.