Multiple Affected as In-Flight Disturbance Hits Delta Aircraft Arriving in Sydney, Australia

A number of individuals have been injured following a Delta Airlines aircraft traveling from Los Angeles to Sydney was hit by turbulence Friday morning.

Delta Flight 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it landed at the Sydney airport, a representative for the carrier stated. Several cabin crew members sustained injuries.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service said they assessed five patients, and transported three to the hospital with minor injuries that such as back pain and migraines. Those affected spanned from their 30s up to the 70s.

It is the most recent case of commercial jets experiencing atmospheric disturbance, with researchers indicating that global warming is a key driver.

There were 245 people and a crew of 15 on the aircraft, the official noted, clarifying that the plane touched down "safely" at Sydney Airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on the day in question.

Emergency responders indicated they were alerted just only 180 seconds prior to the plane arrived, and ambulances were ready and waiting at the airport.

Why in-flight bumpiness is growing more frequent - and more severe.

In the previous year, 25 people were hurt when another Delta jet, flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, experienced "severe" turbulence just a couple of hours into the lengthy trip, and was forced to make an emergency landing.

Earlier this year, passengers and crew on a certain international flight went through a harrowing five seconds bout of severe turbulence. A traveler died and many were hurt, as unbelted passengers were thrown from their seats and were slammed back.

In-flight turbulence is a common occurrence while flying, and while cases of significant turbulence appear to be increasing, they are statistically infrequent.

Estimates show that there are approximately 5,000 incidents of severe-or-greater turbulence every year, out of a total of in excess of 35 million journeys that currently occur globally.

Severe turbulence is categorized as when the vertical motions of a aircraft going through rough air masses apply more than 1.5g-force on your body - enough to propel you from your seat if you were not fastened by a safety belt.

As a changing climate shifts weather patterns, specialists caution that commercial aviation could become less smooth: warming trends and shifting wind patterns in the higher altitudes are expected to boost the occurrence and strength of severe turbulence.