Multiple Hurt as In-Flight Disturbance Impacts Delta Flight into Sydney

Multiple passengers and crew were hurt when a Delta aircraft originating in LA to Sydney encountered rough air Friday morning.

Delta Flight 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it made its approach and landed at the Sydney airport, a representative for the carrier informed. A number of the onboard staff required medical attention.

Local paramedics reported they treated five patients, and transferred three to a medical facility with minor injuries that included pain in the back and head pain. Those affected ranged from their 30s to 70s.

It is the latest incident of aircraft encountering atmospheric disturbance, with researchers saying that global warming is a key driver.

There were 245 people and a crew of 15 on the aircraft, the official said, stating that the plane arrived "safely" at the airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on the day in question.

Emergency responders said they got a call just three minutes before the plane touched down, and response teams were ready and waiting at the airport.

Why plane turbulence is growing increasingly prevalent - and potentially more dangerous.

Last year, two dozen individuals were hurt when another Delta jet, on a route from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, encountered "severe" turbulence just a couple of hours into the transoceanic journey, and diverted for an emergency landing.

Earlier this year, those on board on a Singapore Airlines flight experienced a frightening short but intense period of extreme instability. A traveler passed away and dozens were injured, as those without seatbelts lifted out of their seats and fell back down.

In-flight turbulence is not uncommon while flying, and while instances of rough conditions appear to be increasing, they are statistically infrequent.

Data suggests that there are an estimated thousands of instances of severe-or-greater turbulence annually, out of a sum of more than 35 million journeys that now take off around the world.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the sudden jolts of a aircraft going through disturbed air generate greater than a significant G-force on your body - a strong enough force to throw you from your seat if you weren't wearing a safety belt.

As climate change shifts atmospheric conditions, specialists caution that flying could become less smooth: warming trends and altered air currents in the jet stream level are likely to increase the occurrence and strength of severe turbulence.