Several Injured as In-Flight Disturbance Impacts Delta Flight Arriving in Sydney, Australia

A number of individuals were hurt when a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Sydney experienced turbulence Friday morning.

The flight, numbered 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it made its approach and landed at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier informed. Several cabin crew members required medical attention.

Local paramedics said they treated five patients, and transferred three of them to a medical facility with minor injuries that comprised spinal discomfort and migraines. The patients' ages spanned from their 30s to 70s.

The event represents the newest example of commercial jets being hit by atmospheric disturbance, with researchers indicating that climate change is a major factor.

On board were 245 passengers and fifteen staff members on the aircraft, the official said, stating that the plane touched down "safely" at Sydney Airport at 06:48 local time on Friday morning.

The NSW Ambulance Service indicated they were alerted just three minutes ahead of the plane touched down, and ambulances were standing by on the runway.

The reasons turbulence is becoming more frequent - and often stronger.

During the past year, two dozen individuals were hurt when another Delta jet, flying from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, experienced "considerable" rough air just two hours into the lengthy trip, and diverted for an emergency landing.

Recently, passengers and crew on a certain international flight went through a harrowing brief five-second bout of severe turbulence. An individual died and dozens were injured, as those without seatbelts lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.

In-flight turbulence is a common occurrence during flights, and while occurrences of strong or severe turbulence seem to be rising, 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 in excess of 35 million aircraft departures that currently occur worldwide.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the sudden jolts of a jet going through unstable air generate in excess of a significant G-force on your body - a strong enough force to lift you out of your seat if you weren't wearing a restraint.

As climate change shifts atmospheric conditions, experts warn that commercial aviation could become bumpier: shifts in temperature and changing jet streams in the upper atmosphere are expected to boost the frequency and intensity of severe turbulence.