Multiple Hurt as Turbulence Hits Delta Aircraft Arriving in Sydney

Several people sustained injuries following a Delta Airlines aircraft from Los Angeles to Sydney experienced rough air Friday morning.

Delta Flight 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it made its approach and landed at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier informed. Several cabin crew members sustained injuries.

Emergency medical services reported they evaluated five patients, and transferred three to hospital with minor injuries that included pain in the back and headaches. Those affected spanned from their 30s up to the 70s.

It is the latest incident of aircraft experiencing atmospheric disturbance, with aviation specialists pointing out that shifting climate patterns is a significant contributor.

On board were 245 passengers and 15 crew members on the aircraft, the official said, adding that the plane arrived "safely and normally" at Sydney Airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on the day in question.

Emergency responders said they were alerted just three minutes ahead of the plane arrived, and response teams were ready and waiting at the airport.

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

During the past year, twenty-five passengers and crew sustained injuries when a separate Delta aircraft, flying from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, Netherlands, encountered "significant" atmospheric disturbance just 120 minutes into the transoceanic journey, and was forced to make an unscheduled landing.

Recently, passengers and crew on a certain international flight endured a frightening five seconds period of extreme instability. A traveler passed away and dozens were injured, as individuals not fastened in rose out of their seats and fell back down.

In-flight turbulence is fairly routine during flights, and while occurrences of strong or severe turbulence seem to be rising, they are remained quite uncommon.

Data suggests that there are an estimated 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance each year, out of a sum of over 35 million journeys that now take off worldwide.

Intense turbulence is categorized as when the vertical motions of a jet experiencing unstable air apply in excess of a significant G-force on your body - enough to propel you from your seat if you did not have on a seatbelt.

As global warming alters atmospheric conditions, researchers alert that flying could become bumpier: shifts in temperature and changing jet streams in the upper atmosphere are projected to increase the regularity and severity of dangerous in-flight bumps.