Several Injured as Turbulence Strikes A Delta Airlines Aircraft Arriving in Sydney, Australia

A number of individuals sustained injuries following a Delta flight from LA to Sydney, Australia encountered significant turbulence on Friday morning.

Flight DL41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it touched down at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier told. Four flight attendants required medical attention.

Local paramedics said they evaluated five individuals, and took a trio to the hospital with minor injuries that included spinal discomfort and head pain. The patients' ages ranged from their thirties and seventies.

This marks the most recent case of aircraft being hit by atmospheric disturbance, with experts saying that climate change is a key driver.

On board were nearly 250 travelers and fifteen staff members on the Airbus A350, the official noted, adding that the plane touched down "safely" at Sydney Airport at 06:48 local time on the day in question.

The NSW Ambulance Service said they received a call just three minutes before the plane landed, and ambulances were ready and waiting at the airport.

Why in-flight bumpiness is becoming more frequent - and potentially more dangerous.

Last year, twenty-five passengers and crew sustained injuries when a Delta Airlines flight, on a route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, encountered "considerable" atmospheric disturbance just a couple of hours into the lengthy trip, and diverted for an precautionary landing.

Recently, travelers and staff on a Singapore Airlines jet experienced a terrifying five seconds bout of severe turbulence. A traveler lost their life and many were hurt, as unbelted passengers rose out of their seats and were slammed back.

In-flight turbulence is fairly routine on aircraft journeys, and while instances of significant turbulence appear to be increasing, they are still very rare.

Research indicates that there are around 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance annually, out of a overall number of over 35 million aircraft departures that now take off worldwide.

Intense turbulence is defined as when the vertical motions of a plane going through rough air masses apply more 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 modifies atmospheric conditions, specialists caution that air travel could become bumpier: shifts in temperature and shifting wind patterns in the higher altitudes are projected to increase the frequency and intensity of severe turbulence.