A Number of Affected as In-Flight Disturbance Hits Delta Plane Arriving in Sydney, Australia

Multiple passengers and crew sustained injuries after a Delta Airlines jet traveling from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia was hit by turbulence on Friday morning.

The flight, numbered 41 "encountered brief turbulence" as it landed at the Sydney airport, a representative for the carrier stated. Several cabin crew members sustained injuries.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service said they assessed five patients, and took three to a medical facility with minor injuries that comprised pain in the back and headaches. The patients' ages spanned from their 30s to 70s.

The event represents the latest incident of aircraft being hit by turbulence, with researchers pointing out that shifting climate patterns is a key driver.

There were 245 people and fifteen staff members on the Airbus A350, the Delta spokesperson said, adding that the plane arrived "without further incident" at Sydney Airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday morning.

The NSW Ambulance Service reported they got a call just three minutes before the plane touched down, and ambulances were ready and waiting at the airport.

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

Last year, twenty-five passengers and crew sustained injuries when a separate Delta aircraft, on a route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, encountered "severe" turbulence just two hours into the transoceanic journey, and diverted for an emergency landing.

Earlier this year, those on board on a Singapore Airlines jet experienced a terrifying five seconds bout of severe turbulence. One passenger lost their life and numerous people sustained injuries, as individuals not fastened in lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.

Bumpy air is a common occurrence while flying, and while cases of strong or severe turbulence are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are statistically infrequent.

Research indicates that there are approximately 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance every year, out of a sum of more than 35 million aircraft departures that are conducted worldwide.

Severe turbulence is described as when the up and down movements of a jet experiencing unstable air apply greater than 1.5g-force on your body - enough to lift you out of your seat if you weren't wearing a seatbelt.

As a changing climate alters weather patterns, experts warn that air travel could become more turbulent: shifts in temperature and shifting wind patterns in the jet stream level are projected to heighten the regularity and severity of dangerous in-flight bumps.