Several Injured as Rough Air Strikes Delta Plane into Sydney, Australia

A number of individuals were hurt following a Delta Airlines aircraft originating in Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia experienced significant turbulence this past Friday.

Delta Flight 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it made its approach and landed at Sydney Airport, an airline spokesperson told. Four flight attendants required medical attention.

Emergency medical services stated they evaluated five patients, and transported three to the hospital with relatively minor issues that comprised pain in the back and migraines. The injured ranged from their 30s up to the 70s.

The event represents the newest example of commercial jets being hit by severe turbulence, with researchers pointing out that shifting climate patterns is a significant contributor.

There were 245 people and a crew of 15 on the Airbus A350, the official noted, clarifying that the plane landed "safely and normally" at the airport at 06:48 local time on Friday.

The NSW Ambulance Service reported they received a call just only 180 seconds ahead of the plane landed, and ambulances were ready and waiting at the airport.

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

During the past year, two dozen individuals were hurt when a Delta Airlines flight, on a route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, experienced "considerable" atmospheric disturbance just two hours into the long-haul flight, and had to make an unscheduled landing.

Recently, passengers and crew on a Singapore Airlines jet endured a frightening brief five-second bout of severe turbulence. One passenger died and many were hurt, as individuals not fastened in lifted out of their seats and crashed back down.

In-flight turbulence is not uncommon on aircraft journeys, and while cases of strong or severe turbulence are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are remained quite uncommon.

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

Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the vertical motions of a aircraft passing through disturbed air exert greater than 1.5 times the force of gravity on your body - sufficient force to throw you from your seat if you weren't wearing a safety belt.

As global warming shifts the conditions in the sky, specialists caution that air travel could become more turbulent: temperature changes and shifting wind patterns in the upper atmosphere are likely to heighten the frequency and intensity of severe turbulence.