Several Affected as Rough Air Strikes Delta Flight Landing at Sydney

Several people have been injured when a Delta aircraft from LA to Sydney experienced rough air this past Friday.

The flight, numbered 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it landed at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier stated. Four flight attendants required medical attention.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service reported they treated five patients, and transferred three to a medical facility with minor injuries that such as spinal discomfort and migraines. Those affected ranged from their 30s up to the 70s.

It is the newest example of aircraft being hit by severe turbulence, with experts pointing out that shifting climate patterns is a major factor.

There were 245 passengers and fifteen staff members on the wide-body jet, the official added, adding that the plane landed "without further incident" at the airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday morning.

The NSW Ambulance Service reported they were alerted just only 180 seconds prior to the plane arrived, and response teams were standing by on the runway.

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

During the past year, two dozen individuals were hurt when a separate Delta aircraft, travelling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, hit "considerable" atmospheric disturbance just 120 minutes into the long-haul flight, and was forced to make an precautionary landing.

Recently, travelers and staff on a Singapore Airlines jet went through a harrowing short but intense bout of severe turbulence. An individual died and numerous people sustained injuries, as those without seatbelts lifted out of their seats and fell back down.

In-flight turbulence is fairly routine during flights, and while instances of rough conditions are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are statistically infrequent.

Estimates show that there are around 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance every year, out of a total of more than 35 million journeys that currently occur globally.

Intense turbulence is defined as when the up and down movements of a jet experiencing unstable air exert greater than a significant G-force on your body - a strong enough force to lift you out of your seat if you were not fastened by a safety belt.

As a changing climate modifies atmospheric conditions, researchers alert that air travel could become more turbulent: warming trends and altered air currents in the higher altitudes are projected to increase the frequency and intensity of significant turbulence.