A Number of Injured as Rough Air Impacts Delta Flight into Sydney

Multiple passengers and crew sustained injuries following a Delta flight from LA to Sydney was hit by significant turbulence on Friday morning.

Delta Flight 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it touched down at Sydney Airport, an airline spokesperson informed. Four flight attendants required medical attention.

Emergency medical services said they evaluated five individuals, and took three to hospital with minor injuries that included back pain and headaches. The patients' ages ranged from their 30s to 70s.

The event represents the most recent case of commercial jets experiencing atmospheric disturbance, with aviation specialists indicating that global warming is a significant contributor.

On board were nearly 250 travelers and 15 crew members on the Airbus A350, the official noted, adding that the plane landed "without further incident" at the airport at 06:48 local time on Friday morning.

Emergency responders reported they were alerted just a mere three minutes ahead of the plane landed, and response teams were standing by on the runway.

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

Last year, twenty-five passengers and crew sustained injuries when another Delta jet, flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, hit "severe" atmospheric disturbance just 120 minutes into the long-haul flight, and diverted for an precautionary landing.

Recently, those on board on a Singapore Airlines jet endured a frightening short but intense bout of severe turbulence. A traveler lost their life and numerous people sustained injuries, as those without seatbelts rose out of their seats and crashed back down.

Turbulence is fairly routine while flying, and while instances of rough conditions are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are still very rare.

Research indicates that there are approximately five thousand cases of severe or worse turbulence each year, out of a sum of more than 35 million flights that now take off globally.

Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the sudden jolts of a jet passing through unstable air exert in excess of 1.5 times the force of gravity on your body - sufficient force to propel you from your seat if you weren't wearing a restraint.

As climate change modifies weather patterns, researchers alert that commercial aviation could become bumpier: shifts in temperature and altered air currents in the jet stream level are projected to increase the occurrence and strength of significant turbulence.