Several Injured as Turbulence Strikes Delta Flight Arriving in Sydney

Multiple passengers and crew have been injured after a Delta flight originating in LA to Sydney, Australia encountered significant turbulence this past Friday.

The flight, numbered 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it made its approach and landed at the Sydney airport, an airline spokesperson informed. A number of the onboard staff required medical attention.

Local paramedics said they evaluated a total of five people, and took three to hospital with minor injuries that comprised back pain and headaches. The injured ranged from their 30s to 70s.

It is the newest example of planes being hit by turbulence, with experts pointing out that climate change is a major factor.

The aircraft was carrying 245 passengers and 15 crew members on the aircraft, the representative noted, clarifying that the plane landed "safely and normally" at Sydney Airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on Friday.

Paramedics said they got a call just only 180 seconds before the plane touched down, and ambulances were waiting on the tarmac.

Why in-flight bumpiness is growing increasingly prevalent - and often stronger.

During the past year, two dozen individuals sustained injuries when a Delta Airlines flight, travelling from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, experienced "severe" atmospheric disturbance just a couple of hours into the long-haul flight, and had to make an unscheduled landing.

Recently, passengers and crew on a certain international flight went through a frightening short but intense bout of severe turbulence. A traveler passed away and numerous people sustained injuries, as unbelted passengers lifted out of their seats and crashed back down.

Bumpy air is not uncommon on aircraft journeys, and while occurrences of significant turbulence seem to be rising, they are still very rare.

Research indicates that there are an estimated 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance annually, out of a sum of in excess of 35 million flights that are conducted globally.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is categorized as when the vertical motions of a aircraft passing through unstable air generate more than 1.5g-force on your body - a strong enough force to propel you from your seat if you did not have on a safety belt.

As global warming alters the conditions in the sky, specialists caution that commercial aviation could become less smooth: temperature changes and shifting wind patterns in the higher altitudes are expected to heighten the occurrence and strength of significant turbulence.