Several Hurt as Turbulence Strikes A Delta Airlines Aircraft Landing at Sydney

A number of individuals were hurt when a Delta Airlines aircraft from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia encountered rough air Friday morning.

The flight, numbered 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it landed at the Sydney airport, a representative for the carrier told. Four flight attendants required medical attention.

Local paramedics stated they assessed a total of five people, and took three to the hospital with relatively minor issues that such as spinal discomfort and migraines. The injured ranged from their 30s to 70s.

It is the most recent case of commercial jets encountering severe turbulence, with experts pointing out that climate change is a major factor.

On board were 245 people and fifteen staff members on the Airbus A350, the official added, adding that the plane landed "safely and normally" at the airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on the day in question.

Emergency responders said they were alerted just only 180 seconds ahead of the plane touched down, and response teams were waiting on the tarmac.

Why in-flight bumpiness is getting more frequent - and potentially more dangerous.

In the previous year, twenty-five passengers and crew sustained injuries when another Delta jet, flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, hit "significant" rough air just two hours into the transoceanic journey, and diverted for an precautionary landing.

Earlier this year, passengers and crew on a Singapore Airlines flight endured a frightening five seconds of severe turbulence. An individual passed away and numerous people sustained injuries, as those without seatbelts rose out of their seats and were slammed back.

Turbulence is a common occurrence on aircraft journeys, and while cases of strong or severe turbulence seem to be rising, they are statistically infrequent.

Research indicates that there are around 5,000 incidents of severe-or-greater turbulence each year, out of a total of in excess of 35 million journeys that currently occur worldwide.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is described as when the vertical motions of a aircraft going through disturbed air apply greater than a significant G-force on your body - sufficient force to lift you out of your seat if you did not have on a seatbelt.

As global warming alters atmospheric conditions, experts warn that commercial aviation could become more turbulent: shifts in temperature and changing jet streams in the higher altitudes are likely to boost the frequency and intensity of dangerous in-flight bumps.