Several Injured as Turbulence Strikes Delta Aircraft into Sydney, Australia

A number of individuals sustained injuries following a Delta Airlines flight traveling from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia was hit by significant turbulence on Friday morning.

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

Emergency medical services stated they treated five patients, and took three to hospital with minor injuries that included pain in the back and headaches. The injured ranged from their 30s up to the 70s.

This marks the newest example of planes encountering turbulence, with researchers saying that climate change is a major factor.

The aircraft was carrying nearly 250 travelers and a crew of 15 on the Airbus A350, the representative said, stating that the plane landed "safely" at Sydney Airport at 06:48 local time on Friday morning.

Emergency responders indicated they got a call just a mere three minutes prior to the plane touched down, and ambulances were ready and waiting at the airport.

Why plane turbulence is becoming more common - and often stronger.

Last year, two dozen individuals were hurt when a separate Delta aircraft, flying from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, experienced "significant" turbulence just a couple of hours into the transoceanic journey, and diverted for an unscheduled landing.

Earlier this year, passengers and crew on a Singapore Airlines jet experienced a terrifying brief five-second of severe turbulence. One passenger passed away and dozens were injured, as those without seatbelts were thrown from their seats and crashed back down.

In-flight turbulence is not uncommon while flying, and while occurrences of strong or severe turbulence are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are still very rare.

Estimates show that there are an estimated five thousand cases of severe or worse turbulence annually, out of a sum of more than 35 million flights that currently occur worldwide.

Intense turbulence is described as when the sudden jolts of a aircraft passing through disturbed air exert in excess of a significant G-force on your body - sufficient force to throw you from your seat if you were not fastened by a safety belt.

As climate change shifts weather patterns, experts warn that flying could become more turbulent: temperature changes and changing jet streams in the jet stream level are projected to increase the frequency and intensity of significant turbulence.