Several Hurt as In-Flight Disturbance Strikes A Delta Airlines Aircraft Arriving in Sydney

A number of individuals sustained injuries following a Delta flight originating in LA to Sydney experienced turbulence Friday morning.

Flight DL41 "encountered brief turbulence" as it landed at the Sydney airport, a company official stated. A number of the onboard staff required medical attention.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service reported they treated a total of five people, and took three to the hospital with minor injuries that comprised pain in the back and headaches. Those affected spanned from their thirties and seventies.

The event represents the most recent case of aircraft being hit by atmospheric disturbance, with researchers indicating that global warming is a significant contributor.

There were nearly 250 travelers and a crew of 15 on the Airbus A350, the representative added, adding that the plane arrived "safely and normally" at the airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday morning.

Emergency responders indicated they got a call just three minutes prior to the plane touched down, and emergency vehicles were ready and waiting at the airport.

Why plane turbulence is becoming more frequent - and often stronger.

In the previous year, two dozen individuals sustained injuries when another Delta jet, travelling from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, Netherlands, hit "significant" turbulence just 120 minutes into the lengthy trip, and diverted for an emergency landing.

Recently, those on board on a certain international flight endured a frightening short but intense period of extreme instability. One passenger died and many were hurt, as individuals not fastened in lifted out of their seats and fell back down.

Turbulence is a common occurrence while flying, and while occurrences of rough conditions appear to be increasing, they are still very rare.

Research indicates that there are approximately thousands of instances of severe-or-greater turbulence annually, out of a sum of over 35 million flights that are conducted globally.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the vertical motions of a jet experiencing unstable air generate more than 1.5g-force on your body - a strong enough force to propel you from your seat if you were not fastened by a restraint.

As climate change shifts atmospheric conditions, experts warn that commercial aviation could become less smooth: temperature changes and changing jet streams in the upper atmosphere are expected to increase the occurrence and strength of dangerous in-flight bumps.