Multiple Hurt as Rough Air Hits Delta Aircraft into Sydney

A number of individuals sustained injuries after a Delta Airlines jet originating in Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia was hit by rough air on Friday morning.

Delta Flight 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it made its approach and landed at the Sydney airport, a representative for the carrier told. Four flight attendants required medical attention.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service stated they assessed a total of five people, and transferred three to the hospital with relatively minor issues that such as spinal discomfort and migraines. Those affected spanned from their 30s to 70s.

It is the newest example of aircraft experiencing severe turbulence, with experts pointing out that global warming is a significant contributor.

On board were nearly 250 travelers and a crew of 15 on the Airbus A350, the Delta spokesperson said, adding that the plane touched down "without further incident" at the airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on Friday morning.

Emergency responders indicated they were alerted just only 180 seconds ahead of the plane landed, and ambulances were waiting on the tarmac.

The reasons turbulence is becoming more common - and often stronger.

During the past year, twenty-five passengers and crew were injured when another Delta jet, travelling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, experienced "considerable" rough air just 120 minutes into the lengthy trip, and had to make an unscheduled landing.

Earlier this year, those on board on a certain international flight endured a harrowing short but intense bout of severe turbulence. One passenger lost their life and many were hurt, as unbelted passengers were thrown from their seats and crashed back down.

Turbulence is a common occurrence while flying, and while occurrences of significant turbulence appear to be increasing, they are still very rare.

Research indicates that there are approximately five thousand cases of significant in-flight disturbance each year, out of a total of more than 35 million aircraft departures that are conducted worldwide.

Severe turbulence is defined as when the up and down movements of a jet passing through unstable air apply more than a significant G-force on your body - sufficient force to propel you from your seat if you did not have on a seatbelt.

As global warming shifts atmospheric conditions, researchers alert that commercial aviation could become less smooth: temperature changes and altered air currents in the upper atmosphere are likely to heighten the frequency and intensity of dangerous in-flight bumps.