Hurricanes differ from thunderstorms in that they often occur much closer to the ground. For this reason, planes are sometimes able to fly over hurricanes rather than being redirected around them. While it is possible for planes to fly through the eye of a hurricane, this is only ever done for scientific research.

Yes, planes can fly over hurricanes, but only under specific conditions and usually only for small to moderate storms. A typical hurricane has a vertical height of about 30,000 to 40,000 feet. Since most commercial jetliners have a maximum cruising altitude of approximately 41,000 to 45,000 feet, they can technically fly "over the top" of the weather. However, major, severe hurricanes (Category 4 or 5) can reach heights of 50,000 feet or more, which makes it impossible for any commercial aircraft to clear the storm. In practice, airlines almost always choose to fly around a hurricane rather than over it. This is because the "convective" air above a hurricane can cause severe turbulence and unpredictable updrafts that are uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for passengers. Furthermore, if an aircraft flying over a storm were to suffer an engine failure or an emergency decompression, it would be forced to descend into the hurricane's most violent winds—a risk no pilot is willing to take. Specialized "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft do fly into the eye of the storm, but these are heavily reinforced military or scientific planes.