Hurricanes are relatively slow-moving, relatively predictable, and have relatively consistent wind speeds/directions. Obviously it would be quite bad to fly in

Hurricanes are relatively slow-moving, relatively predictable, and have relatively consistent wind speeds/directions. Obviously it would be quite bad to fly into a hurricane's rain bands (the weather outside of the "corridor" that the DL431 flight moved through). The real feat here is the real-time and reliable coordination between all interested parties -- as mentioned in the article, the meteorologists, dispatchers, pilots, cabin crew, and ground crew. Everybody involved had a distinct sense that the window of opportunity was narrow and it should be quite clear that they acted with a high degree of professionalism and skill. As for the life-threatening danger: it's risky, that's for sure, and I would by no means calls this a small feat, but there is no intense wind shear like those found in tornadoes, thunder storms, microbursts, or other such things.