A Number of Hurt as Turbulence Impacts Delta Flight Arriving in Sydney

Several people sustained injuries after a Delta Airlines aircraft from Los Angeles to Sydney experienced significant turbulence Friday morning.

The flight, numbered 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it made its approach and landed at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier informed. Four flight attendants were injured.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service said they treated five patients, and transported a trio to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries that included spinal discomfort and head pain. Those affected were between their thirties and seventies.

This marks the newest example of aircraft encountering atmospheric disturbance, with aviation specialists pointing out that climate change is a key driver.

There were 245 people and 15 crew members on the aircraft, the Delta spokesperson noted, adding that the plane arrived "safely and normally" at Sydney Airport at 06:48 local time on Friday.

The NSW Ambulance Service said they were alerted just only 180 seconds before the plane landed, and ambulances were ready and waiting at the airport.

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

Last year, 25 people sustained injuries when a separate Delta aircraft, flying from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, encountered "severe" atmospheric disturbance just a couple of hours into the lengthy trip, and was forced to make an precautionary landing.

Recently, those on board on a Singapore Airlines jet went through a harrowing short but intense period of extreme instability. One passenger died and dozens were injured, as those without seatbelts lifted out of their seats and crashed back down.

Bumpy air is a common occurrence during flights, and while occurrences of significant turbulence seem to be rising, they are remained quite uncommon.

Data suggests that there are approximately five thousand cases of severe or worse turbulence annually, out of a sum of over 35 million flights that currently occur worldwide.

Severe turbulence is described as when the sudden jolts of a jet going through rough air masses generate in excess of 1.5g-force on your body - a strong enough force to lift you out of your seat if you weren't wearing a seatbelt.

As climate change modifies weather patterns, researchers alert that air travel could become less smooth: warming trends and changing jet streams in the jet stream level are expected to heighten the frequency and intensity of significant turbulence.