A Number of Injured as Turbulence Impacts Delta Aircraft Landing at Sydney

Multiple passengers and crew have been injured after a Delta Airlines flight originating in Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia encountered significant turbulence Friday morning.

Flight DL41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it made its approach and landed at the Sydney airport, a representative for the carrier informed. A number of the onboard staff required medical attention.

Emergency medical services said they treated five individuals, and transported three to hospital with minor injuries that comprised pain in the back and headaches. The patients' ages spanned from their thirties and seventies.

This marks the most recent case of aircraft being hit by atmospheric disturbance, with experts indicating that shifting climate patterns is a significant contributor.

The aircraft was carrying 245 people and 15 crew members on the Airbus A350, the official added, stating that the plane touched down "safely and normally" at the airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on Friday.

Paramedics reported they got a call just only 180 seconds prior to the plane touched down, and ambulances were standing by on the runway.

The reasons turbulence is getting increasingly prevalent - and more severe.

Last year, two dozen individuals were injured when another Delta jet, flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, hit "severe" turbulence just 120 minutes into the lengthy trip, and diverted for an emergency landing.

Recently, those on board on a Singapore Airlines flight endured a harrowing brief five-second of severe turbulence. One passenger passed away and numerous people sustained injuries, as individuals not fastened in lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.

In-flight turbulence is fairly routine on aircraft journeys, and while instances of rough conditions appear to be increasing, they are statistically infrequent.

Estimates show that there are an estimated 5,000 incidents of severe or worse turbulence annually, out of a total of more than 35 million journeys that now take off worldwide.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the vertical motions of a aircraft experiencing rough air masses apply in excess of 1.5g-force on your body - enough to propel you from your seat if you were not fastened by a seatbelt.

As climate change modifies the conditions in the sky, experts warn that air travel could become more turbulent: warming trends and changing jet streams in the upper atmosphere are projected to boost the occurrence and strength of significant turbulence.