A Number of Affected as In-Flight Disturbance Strikes A Delta Airlines Plane Arriving in Sydney, Australia

A number of individuals were hurt when a Delta Airlines jet traveling from Los Angeles to Sydney encountered significant turbulence this past Friday.

The flight, numbered 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it landed at Sydney Airport, an airline spokesperson told. Several cabin crew members required medical attention.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service reported they assessed five individuals, and transferred three to the hospital with relatively minor issues that such as spinal discomfort and headaches. The patients' ages were between their 30s up to the 70s.

It is the newest example of aircraft being hit by atmospheric disturbance, with aviation specialists pointing out that shifting climate patterns is a significant contributor.

The aircraft was carrying 245 passengers and 15 crew members on the aircraft, the official said, clarifying that the plane landed "safely and normally" at the airport at 06:48 local time on Friday morning.

Emergency responders said they were alerted just a mere three minutes before the plane touched down, and emergency vehicles were standing by on the runway.

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

During the past year, twenty-five passengers and crew were hurt when a separate Delta aircraft, on a route from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, experienced "significant" rough air 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 went through a frightening short but intense period of extreme instability. One passenger passed away and many were hurt, as those without seatbelts lifted out of their seats and fell back down.

In-flight turbulence is fairly routine on aircraft journeys, and while instances of rough conditions appear to be increasing, they are remained quite uncommon.

Estimates show that there are an estimated thousands of instances of significant in-flight disturbance each year, out of a overall number of over 35 million flights that currently occur around the world.

Severe turbulence is described as when the up and down movements of a aircraft going through disturbed air generate greater than 1.5g-force on your body - sufficient force to lift you out of your seat if you weren't wearing a seatbelt.

As a changing climate modifies atmospheric conditions, experts warn that flying could become bumpier: warming trends and altered air currents in the jet stream level are projected to increase the occurrence and strength of dangerous in-flight bumps.