Several Hurt as In-Flight Disturbance Strikes A Delta Airlines Plane Landing at Sydney

Multiple passengers and crew sustained injuries after a Delta flight originating in LA to Sydney encountered turbulence Friday morning.

The flight, numbered 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it made its approach and landed at Sydney Airport, an airline spokesperson stated. Several cabin crew members were injured.

Emergency medical services stated they evaluated five patients, and transported three of them to a medical facility with non-life-threatening injuries that included spinal discomfort and headaches. The patients' ages ranged from their thirties and seventies.

The event represents the newest example of planes being hit by atmospheric disturbance, with aviation specialists pointing out that climate change is a major factor.

On board were 245 passengers and fifteen staff members on the Airbus A350, the representative noted, adding that the plane landed "safely" at Sydney Airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on Friday.

Emergency responders reported they got a call just three minutes ahead of the plane touched down, and ambulances were waiting on the tarmac.

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

Last year, 25 people sustained injuries when a Delta Airlines flight, flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, experienced "significant" atmospheric disturbance just two hours into the transoceanic journey, and was forced to make an emergency landing.

Earlier this year, travelers and staff on a Singapore Airlines flight went through a terrifying five seconds of severe turbulence. An individual lost their life and dozens were injured, as those without seatbelts were thrown from their seats and fell back down.

Turbulence is a common occurrence while flying, and while cases of strong or severe turbulence appear to be increasing, they are still very rare.

Data suggests that there are around 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance annually, out of a sum of over 35 million flights that now take off around the world.

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

As global warming alters the conditions in the sky, researchers alert that air travel could become more turbulent: shifts in temperature and altered air currents in the jet stream level are projected to boost the frequency and intensity of significant turbulence.