Authorities declare a state of calamity as the storm heads toward the Bahamas

Hurricane Melissa, initially classified as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale — the highest and most dangerous — crossed the Eastern Caribbean Sea between Tuesday, October 28 and Wednesday, October 29, 2025, generating a humanitarian crisis and paralyzing air transport in the region (see AVIONEWS). The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported sustained winds that reached 300 km/h and torrential rains, producing storm waves "potentially lethal".

The hurricane made landfall in Jamaica yesterday afternoon, striking the island with a violence not seen since 1988, although it was subsequently downgraded to Category 4 and then 3 as it moved northeast. Jamaican authorities declared a state of disaster, with around half a million people left without electricity and roads blocked by flooding and debris.

This morning Melissa reached the eastern part of Cuba, where the Ministry of Transport had already launched a massive evacuation of over 700,000 people. According to forecasts from the Meteorological Office, the cyclone will continue its course toward the Bahamas and potentially Bermuda, remaining an extremely powerful weather system.

The consequences for air traffic were immediate and dramatic. Flight safety was severely tested: a reconnaissance aircraft from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (the "Hurricane Hunters") recorded extreme turbulence while crossing the cyclone's eye, making precautionary inspections necessary.
Civil aviation authorities of several countries imposed closures of major airports:

- Jamaica: Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston have been closed to traffic since October 26 and remain operational only for emergency response, with significant damage reported, including water intrusion and flooding.

- Cuba: Antonio Maceo International Airport in Santiago de Cuba and Frank País International Airport in Holguín have suspended flight operations since yesterday, October 28, with interruptions expected until tomorrow, October 30.

- The Bahamas Airport Authority temporarily closed Exuma International Airport, while Lynden Pindling International Airport remained operational although at risk depending on the track.

As a consequence, major international carriers operating in the region, such as American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, cancelled en masse the flights scheduled between October 28 and 29 and issued travel advisories affecting numerous key airports along Melissa's path. For example, Virgin Atlantic confirmed the cancellation of flights VS165 and VS166 for October 27 and 28 due to adverse weather conditions.

Below: 

in the first video the update given yesterday on Melissa by the director of the National Hurricane Center, Michael Brennan; in the lower video posted online by KCRA 3, the devastation caused in recent hours by the hurricane in Jamaica