A Number of Injured as Turbulence Impacts Delta Aircraft Arriving in Sydney

Several people have been injured when a Delta flight originating in Los Angeles to Sydney was hit by significant turbulence on Friday morning.

Delta Flight 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it made its approach and landed at Sydney Airport, an airline spokesperson stated. Four flight attendants were injured.

Local paramedics stated they treated a total of five people, and transported a trio to the hospital with minor injuries that comprised spinal discomfort and headaches. The injured spanned from their 30s to 70s.

The event represents the newest example of commercial jets experiencing severe turbulence, with aviation specialists pointing out that global warming is a major factor.

On board were 245 people and a crew of 15 on the wide-body jet, the representative noted, adding that the plane touched down "safely" at the airport at 06:48 local time on the day in question.

Emergency responders indicated they received a call just a mere three minutes ahead of the plane landed, and ambulances were standing by on the runway.

The reasons turbulence is becoming more frequent - and potentially more dangerous.

Last year, 25 people were hurt when a Delta Airlines flight, flying from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, Netherlands, experienced "severe" atmospheric disturbance just a couple of hours into the long-haul flight, and had to make an emergency landing.

Earlier this year, passengers and crew on a Singapore Airlines jet experienced a terrifying brief five-second of severe turbulence. A traveler died and dozens were injured, as those without seatbelts rose out of their seats and fell back down.

Bumpy air is not uncommon on aircraft journeys, and while cases of significant turbulence seem to be rising, they are remained quite uncommon.

Research indicates that there are an estimated five thousand cases of significant in-flight disturbance every year, out of a total of in excess of 35 million aircraft departures that currently occur worldwide.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the up and down movements of a jet going through disturbed air exert greater than 1.5g-force on your body - sufficient force to propel you from your seat if you did not have on a seatbelt.

As global warming alters the conditions in the sky, researchers alert that flying could become more turbulent: shifts in temperature and shifting wind patterns in the upper atmosphere are projected to boost the frequency and intensity of significant turbulence.