Multiple Injured as Turbulence Hits A Delta Airlines Flight Landing at Sydney

Several people were hurt when a Delta Airlines jet originating in Los Angeles to Sydney was hit by rough air Friday morning.

Delta Flight 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it made its approach and landed at the Sydney airport, a company official informed. Several cabin crew members required medical attention.

Local paramedics stated they treated five individuals, and transported three to hospital with relatively minor issues that such as pain in the back and head pain. Those affected ranged from their thirties and seventies.

This marks the latest incident of commercial jets experiencing turbulence, with experts pointing out that global warming is a key driver.

The aircraft was carrying 245 people and 15 crew members on the aircraft, the official added, adding that the plane arrived "safely and normally" at Sydney Airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on Friday.

The NSW Ambulance Service reported they received a call just only 180 seconds ahead of the plane landed, and emergency vehicles were standing by on the runway.

Why in-flight bumpiness is becoming more common - and more severe.

During the past year, two dozen individuals sustained injuries when a Delta Airlines flight, flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, hit "considerable" turbulence just 120 minutes into the transoceanic journey, and diverted for an unscheduled landing.

Earlier this year, travelers and staff on a Singapore Airlines jet experienced a frightening five seconds of severe turbulence. One passenger passed away and many were hurt, as those without seatbelts rose out of their seats and were slammed back.

Turbulence is a common occurrence on aircraft journeys, and while instances of significant turbulence are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are remained quite uncommon.

Data suggests that there are around 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance each year, out of a total of over 35 million flights that now take off worldwide.

Intense turbulence is defined as when the up and down movements of a aircraft going through disturbed air generate in excess of 1.5g-force on your body - sufficient force to throw you from your seat if you were not fastened by a restraint.

As climate change alters atmospheric conditions, researchers alert that air travel could become bumpier: shifts in temperature and changing jet streams in the upper atmosphere are expected to increase the occurrence and strength of dangerous in-flight bumps.