Multiple Injured as Turbulence Impacts A Delta Airlines Plane into Sydney

A number of individuals were hurt after a Delta Airlines aircraft originating in Los Angeles to Sydney experienced rough air this past Friday.

Flight DL41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it landed at Sydney Airport, an airline spokesperson told. A number of the onboard staff sustained injuries.

Emergency medical services said they evaluated a total of five people, and took three of them to a medical facility with relatively minor issues that such as spinal discomfort and head pain. The injured ranged from their thirties and seventies.

The event represents the most recent case of commercial jets experiencing turbulence, with aviation specialists pointing out that shifting climate patterns is a key driver.

The aircraft was carrying 245 people and fifteen staff members on the Airbus A350, the representative added, adding that the plane arrived "without further incident" at the airport at 06:48 local time on the day in question.

Paramedics indicated they received a call just only 180 seconds ahead of the plane landed, and response teams were ready and waiting at the airport.

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

During the past year, two dozen individuals were hurt when a separate Delta aircraft, travelling from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, encountered "significant" rough air just two hours into the transoceanic journey, and had to make an precautionary landing.

Earlier this year, those on board on a Singapore Airlines jet experienced a terrifying brief five-second of severe turbulence. One passenger died and dozens were injured, as unbelted passengers lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.

Bumpy air is a common occurrence while flying, and while occurrences of strong or severe turbulence are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are still very rare.

Estimates show that there are an estimated 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance each year, out of a overall number of more than 35 million journeys that now take off around the world.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the vertical motions of a plane going through disturbed air generate more than 1.5 times the force of gravity on your body - sufficient force to propel you from your seat if you were not fastened by a safety belt.

As a changing climate modifies atmospheric conditions, experts warn that air travel could become less smooth: warming trends and altered air currents in the upper atmosphere are projected to increase the frequency and intensity of significant turbulence.