Several Hurt as In-Flight Disturbance Hits A Delta Airlines Flight Arriving in Sydney

A number of individuals have been injured after a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia encountered turbulence this past Friday.

The flight, numbered 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it touched down at the Sydney airport, an airline spokesperson stated. Several cabin crew members required medical attention.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service reported they evaluated five patients, and transported three of them to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries that included pain in the back and headaches. Those affected were between their 30s to 70s.

The event represents the most recent case of planes being hit by turbulence, with researchers saying that climate change is a key driver.

On board were 245 people and 15 crew members on the wide-body jet, the official added, adding that the plane landed "safely" at Sydney Airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday morning.

The NSW Ambulance Service said they got a call just a mere three minutes ahead of the plane landed, and response teams were standing by on the runway.

Why plane turbulence is becoming increasingly prevalent - and more severe.

Last year, twenty-five passengers and crew were hurt when a separate Delta aircraft, on a route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, hit "significant" rough air just two hours into the long-haul flight, and diverted for an precautionary landing.

Recently, those on board on a Singapore Airlines flight endured a frightening short but intense bout of severe turbulence. An individual passed away and dozens were injured, as those without seatbelts lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.

Bumpy air is fairly routine while flying, and while occurrences of strong or severe turbulence are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are remained quite uncommon.

Research indicates that there are approximately 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance every year, out of a overall number of more than 35 million aircraft departures that are conducted globally.

Intense turbulence is defined as when the vertical motions of a jet experiencing disturbed air exert in excess of 1.5 times the force of gravity on your body - enough to lift you out of your seat if you weren't wearing a safety belt.

As global warming alters the conditions in the sky, experts warn that flying could become less smooth: shifts in temperature and changing jet streams in the higher altitudes are projected to increase the occurrence and strength of severe turbulence.