Multiple Hurt as Turbulence Strikes A Delta Airlines Aircraft into Sydney

Multiple passengers and crew have been injured when a Delta jet traveling from LA to Sydney experienced rough air this past Friday.

Delta Flight 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it made its approach and landed at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier informed. A number of the onboard staff required medical attention.

Local paramedics reported they evaluated a total of five people, and transported a trio to the hospital with relatively minor issues that included spinal discomfort and headaches. Those affected ranged from their 30s up to the 70s.

It is the newest example of commercial jets experiencing atmospheric disturbance, with aviation specialists saying that climate change is a major factor.

On board were 245 people and 15 crew members on the aircraft, the representative noted, clarifying that the plane touched down "safely and normally" at the airport at 06:48 local time on the day in question.

Paramedics reported they got a call just a mere three minutes prior to the plane arrived, and response teams were ready and waiting at the airport.

Why plane turbulence is becoming more common - and more severe.

In the previous year, 25 people sustained injuries when another Delta jet, flying from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, Netherlands, encountered "severe" turbulence just two hours into the lengthy trip, and had to make an unscheduled landing.

Earlier this year, travelers and staff on a Singapore Airlines jet experienced a frightening five seconds bout of severe turbulence. One passenger lost their life and dozens were injured, as those without seatbelts lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.

Turbulence is not uncommon during flights, and while instances of strong or severe turbulence are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are still very rare.

Data suggests that there are approximately 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance each year, out of a total of in excess of 35 million flights that currently occur globally.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the vertical motions of a aircraft passing through rough air masses apply more than a significant G-force on your body - enough to throw you from your seat if you were not fastened by a restraint.

As a changing climate modifies the conditions in the sky, specialists caution that air travel could become less smooth: temperature changes and shifting wind patterns in the jet stream level are expected to increase the regularity and severity of severe turbulence.