Several Affected as Turbulence Hits Delta Plane into Sydney, Australia

Several people sustained injuries when a Delta aircraft originating in LA to Sydney, Australia encountered significant turbulence this past Friday.

Flight DL41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it landed at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier informed. A number of the onboard staff required medical attention.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service stated they assessed a total of five people, and took a trio to hospital with minor injuries that such as spinal discomfort and migraines. Those affected spanned from their 30s up to the 70s.

It is the newest example of commercial jets being hit by atmospheric disturbance, with aviation specialists saying that global warming is a significant contributor.

The aircraft was carrying nearly 250 travelers and a crew of 15 on the wide-body jet, the official added, clarifying that the plane arrived "safely" at the airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on the day in question.

Paramedics indicated they were alerted just three minutes ahead of the plane landed, and ambulances were waiting on the tarmac.

Why in-flight bumpiness is becoming more common - and potentially more dangerous.

During the past year, two dozen individuals were injured when a Delta Airlines flight, travelling from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, Netherlands, encountered "significant" rough air just 120 minutes into the lengthy trip, and was forced to make an unscheduled landing.

Earlier this year, passengers and crew on a Singapore Airlines flight endured a terrifying short but intense bout of severe turbulence. One passenger passed away and many were hurt, as those without seatbelts rose out of their seats and were slammed back.

In-flight turbulence is a common occurrence on aircraft journeys, and while instances of rough conditions are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are statistically infrequent.

Research indicates that there are approximately thousands of instances of severe-or-greater turbulence each year, out of a total of over 35 million aircraft departures that now take off worldwide.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is described as when the sudden jolts of a jet going through disturbed air exert in excess of a significant G-force on your body - enough to propel you from your seat if you did not have on a restraint.

As a changing climate alters weather patterns, experts warn that commercial aviation could become less smooth: temperature changes and changing jet streams in the upper atmosphere are expected to boost the occurrence and strength of dangerous in-flight bumps.