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

Several people were hurt following a Delta Airlines jet traveling from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia encountered significant turbulence this past Friday.

Delta Flight 41 "encountered brief turbulence" as it landed at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier told. Four flight attendants sustained injuries.

Emergency medical services stated they assessed five patients, and transferred three to a medical facility with minor injuries that such as spinal discomfort and head pain. The patients' ages spanned from their 30s up to the 70s.

The event represents the newest example of aircraft experiencing atmospheric disturbance, with experts indicating that shifting climate patterns is a key driver.

The aircraft was carrying 245 passengers and a crew of 15 on the Airbus A350, the Delta spokesperson said, stating that the plane touched down "safely and normally" at Sydney Airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday.

Paramedics said they received a call just three minutes prior to the plane arrived, and response teams were waiting on the tarmac.

Why in-flight bumpiness is becoming increasingly prevalent - and often stronger.

Last year, two dozen individuals were hurt when a Delta Airlines flight, on a route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, experienced "severe" turbulence just a couple of hours into the transoceanic journey, and had to make an emergency landing.

Recently, those on board on a Singapore Airlines flight endured a harrowing brief five-second period of extreme instability. A traveler died and numerous people sustained injuries, as those without seatbelts were thrown from their seats and crashed back down.

Turbulence is fairly routine on aircraft journeys, and while instances of rough conditions are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are statistically infrequent.

Data suggests that there are approximately five thousand cases of severe or worse turbulence each year, out of a sum of in excess of 35 million flights that now take off around the world.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the sudden jolts of a jet passing through unstable air generate in excess of 1.5g-force on your body - a strong enough force to propel you from your seat if you did not have on a seatbelt.

As a changing climate modifies atmospheric conditions, experts warn that commercial aviation could become more turbulent: temperature changes and shifting wind patterns in the higher altitudes are expected to boost the occurrence and strength of severe turbulence.