Heart-stopping footage shows plane withstand extreme turbulence while flying through Hurricane Milton

A plane flying through Hurricane Milton was seen aggressively shaking and jolting while enduring extreme turbulence.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as 'hurricane hunters' flew through the category 5 hurricane towards Florida's west coast on Tuesday. 

A group of brave researchers were onboard conducting vital research, including predicting the hurricane's path and future strength. 

Outside of the WP-3D Orion named 'Missy Piggy', the sky was dark grey as rain pelted against the plane's window.

The video showed the crew members holding tightly to the plane as the ride turned rocky.

A massive shudder caused the team's supplies to crash to the ground as it fell over one of the hurricane hunters.

'Holy c***', one of the passengers is heard saying as he looks around the plane and sees the damage done.

After about two hectic minutes, the plane appeared to enter clearer territory. The turbulence subsided and the sky looked lighter.

The flight was meant to help researchers and forecasters better the understand the storm, the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center posted on X alongside the video.

In a pre-flight briefing for a similar mission, NOAA flight director Sofia de Solo explained the goals of the risky plane ride.

'This data is used at the National Hurricane Center to improve forecasts and the data is input into the models,' she said. 

De Solo explained the storm is 'evacuating air at a very rapid rate.'

'This is a very strong storm with very intense impacts,' she added. 

The importance of understanding this storm is amplified because it is expected to hit the same places devastated by Hurricane Helene, which claimed over 230 lives. 

In an update from the National Hurricane Center on Tuesday, Hurricane Milton is 'expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida late Wednesday as a dangerous major hurricane.'

The hurricane dropped to a category 4 storm before its intensity ramped back up to category 5 with its sustained 180mph winds. 

Fearful Floridians are bracing for the worst.

‘I’m getting out fast this time. But when I return, I just know there’ll be nothing to come back to,' Joe Barness, who had to be rescued from his waterfront house by a sheriff’s department air boat during Hurricane Helene, told DailyMail.com. 

‘The winds are going to push that salt water like never before. Every house in this neighborhood is doomed.’

Florida residents were warned of Milton on Sunday, when it was only categorized as a tropical storm of the coast of Mexico.

In preparation for widespread chaos and danger, gov. Ron DeSantis rolled out emergency efforts.

The Florida Department of Health deployed over 200 emergency response vehicles, according to the governor's website.

Roads are being actively cleared of debris and fuel reserves are being replenished by the Department of Transportation.