A Number of Hurt as Turbulence Strikes Delta Plane Arriving in Sydney, Australia

Multiple passengers and crew sustained injuries following a Delta flight traveling from LA to Sydney encountered significant turbulence Friday morning.

Flight DL41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it touched down at Sydney Airport, an airline spokesperson informed. A number of the onboard staff were injured.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service reported they assessed five individuals, and transported a trio to the hospital with relatively minor issues that included pain in the back and head pain. Those affected ranged from their thirties and seventies.

The event represents the most recent case of commercial jets encountering atmospheric disturbance, with researchers indicating that shifting climate patterns is a major factor.

On board were 245 passengers and a crew of 15 on the Airbus A350, the official noted, clarifying that the plane landed "without further incident" at Sydney Airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on Friday.

Emergency responders said they got a call just a mere three minutes ahead of the plane landed, and emergency vehicles were ready and waiting at the airport.

Why in-flight bumpiness is becoming more common - and more severe.

During the past year, two dozen individuals were hurt when a Delta Airlines flight, flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, encountered "considerable" turbulence just 120 minutes into the lengthy trip, and diverted for an unscheduled landing.

Earlier this year, travelers and staff on a Singapore Airlines jet went through a harrowing five seconds bout of severe turbulence. An individual died and numerous people sustained injuries, as unbelted passengers rose out of their seats and were slammed back.

In-flight turbulence is a common occurrence during flights, and while cases of strong or severe turbulence are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are remained quite uncommon.

Estimates show that there are an estimated five thousand cases of severe-or-greater turbulence each year, out of a sum of in excess of 35 million flights that now take off worldwide.

Intense turbulence is categorized as when the sudden jolts of a aircraft going through rough air masses apply more than 1.5g-force on your body - sufficient force to lift you out of your seat if you weren't wearing a safety belt.

As a changing climate modifies weather patterns, experts warn that commercial aviation could become more turbulent: temperature changes and altered air currents in the higher altitudes are expected to boost the frequency and intensity of significant turbulence.