Several Hurt as In-Flight Disturbance Strikes Delta Aircraft Landing at Sydney, Australia

Several people have been injured after a Delta Airlines jet from Los Angeles to Sydney was hit by turbulence Friday morning.

Delta Flight 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it landed at Sydney Airport, an airline spokesperson told. Several cabin crew members required medical attention.

Local paramedics stated they evaluated five patients, and transported a trio to a medical facility with non-life-threatening injuries that such as pain in the back and migraines. The injured ranged from their thirties and seventies.

This marks the newest example of commercial jets encountering atmospheric disturbance, with aviation specialists pointing out that climate change is a significant contributor.

There were 245 people and a crew of 15 on the Airbus A350, the representative noted, clarifying that the plane touched down "safely and normally" at Sydney Airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on the day in question.

Emergency responders indicated they got a call just a mere three minutes prior to the plane touched down, and response teams were waiting on the tarmac.

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

During the past year, twenty-five passengers and crew sustained injuries when another Delta jet, travelling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, experienced "significant" rough air just 120 minutes into the transoceanic journey, and had to make an precautionary landing.

Recently, travelers and staff on a Singapore Airlines jet went through a frightening brief five-second of severe turbulence. A traveler lost their life and many were hurt, as unbelted passengers lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.

In-flight turbulence is not uncommon during flights, and while cases of significant turbulence seem to be rising, they are remained quite uncommon.

Research indicates that there are around 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance annually, out of a total of in excess of 35 million journeys that are conducted worldwide.

Severe turbulence is defined as when the up and down movements of a jet experiencing rough air masses apply in excess of 1.5g-force on your body - a strong enough force to lift you out of your seat if you weren't wearing a restraint.

As a changing climate shifts atmospheric conditions, researchers alert that commercial aviation could become bumpier: shifts in temperature and altered air currents in the higher altitudes are projected to boost the frequency and intensity of dangerous in-flight bumps.