Multiple Affected as Turbulence Strikes Delta Plane Landing at Sydney

Several people were hurt following a Delta aircraft from LA to Sydney experienced significant turbulence on Friday morning.

Delta Flight 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it landed at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier stated. A number of the onboard staff sustained injuries.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service reported they treated five patients, and took three of them to the hospital with relatively minor issues that included spinal discomfort and head pain. The injured spanned from their 30s to 70s.

The event represents the latest incident of aircraft encountering turbulence, with experts indicating that global warming is a significant contributor.

There were 245 passengers and fifteen staff members on the aircraft, the representative added, clarifying that the plane arrived "safely" at the airport at 06:48 local time on Friday.

Emergency responders said they received a call just only 180 seconds ahead of the plane touched down, and response teams were standing by on the runway.

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

In the previous year, twenty-five passengers and crew sustained injuries when a separate Delta aircraft, on a route from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, Netherlands, experienced "severe" rough air just two hours into the transoceanic journey, and had to make an emergency landing.

Earlier this year, travelers and staff on a Singapore Airlines flight went through a frightening brief five-second bout 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 fairly routine on aircraft journeys, and while occurrences of strong or severe turbulence are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are remained quite uncommon.

Estimates show that there are an estimated thousands of instances of severe-or-greater turbulence each year, out of a total of over 35 million flights that currently occur worldwide.

Severe turbulence is defined as when the up and down movements of a jet going through rough air masses 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 restraint.

As a changing climate modifies weather patterns, experts warn that air travel could become less smooth: temperature changes and changing jet streams in the higher altitudes are likely to boost the frequency and intensity of severe turbulence.