Multiple Injured as Rough Air Impacts Delta Flight Arriving in Sydney, Australia

A number of individuals have been injured following a Delta aircraft originating in Los Angeles to Sydney was hit by rough air on Friday morning.

Delta Flight 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it landed at Sydney Airport, a company official informed. Four flight attendants sustained injuries.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service reported they evaluated five individuals, and transported three to the hospital with minor injuries that included pain in the back and headaches. The injured ranged from their 30s up to the 70s.

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

On board were 245 people and 15 crew members on the wide-body jet, the Delta spokesperson said, adding that the plane landed "without further incident" at Sydney Airport at 06:48 local time on the day in question.

Paramedics said they were alerted just only 180 seconds prior to the plane landed, and ambulances were waiting on the tarmac.

Why plane turbulence is getting more frequent - and more severe.

During the past year, 25 people were hurt when another Delta jet, on a route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, experienced "considerable" rough air just two hours into the transoceanic journey, and diverted for an precautionary landing.

Recently, those on board on a certain international flight endured a frightening short but intense bout of severe turbulence. A traveler passed away and dozens were injured, as unbelted passengers rose out of their seats and fell back down.

Turbulence is fairly routine on aircraft journeys, and while cases of rough conditions seem to be rising, they are remained quite uncommon.

Estimates show that there are around thousands of instances of significant in-flight disturbance every year, out of a total of more than 35 million journeys that currently occur globally.

Severe turbulence is defined as when the vertical motions of a jet passing through disturbed air apply greater than a significant G-force on your body - sufficient force to throw you from your seat if you weren't wearing a safety belt.

As climate change alters the conditions in the sky, specialists caution that flying could become more turbulent: shifts in temperature and shifting wind patterns in the jet stream level are projected to boost the occurrence and strength of dangerous in-flight bumps.