Multiple Hurt as Rough Air Impacts Delta Plane Arriving in Sydney

Several people were hurt after a Delta Airlines flight traveling from LA to Sydney, Australia experienced rough air Friday morning.

Flight DL41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it made its approach and landed at Sydney Airport, an airline spokesperson stated. A number of the onboard staff sustained injuries.

Local paramedics stated they assessed five patients, and took three of them to a medical facility with minor injuries that such as spinal discomfort and migraines. The patients' ages spanned from their thirties and seventies.

This marks the most recent case of aircraft encountering severe turbulence, with aviation specialists saying that shifting climate patterns is a key driver.

The aircraft was carrying nearly 250 travelers and a crew of 15 on the Airbus A350, the official added, adding that the plane arrived "safely" at the airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday morning.

The NSW Ambulance Service indicated they received a call just only 180 seconds ahead of the plane arrived, and emergency vehicles were ready and waiting at the airport.

Why plane turbulence is getting more common - and potentially more dangerous.

Last year, twenty-five passengers and crew sustained injuries when a Delta Airlines flight, flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, encountered "considerable" rough air just two hours into the long-haul flight, and diverted for an emergency landing.

Recently, travelers and staff on a certain international flight endured a frightening short but intense period of extreme instability. An individual died and dozens were injured, as unbelted passengers lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.

Turbulence is fairly routine during flights, and while instances of rough conditions appear to be increasing, they are statistically infrequent.

Data suggests that there are approximately 5,000 incidents of severe or worse turbulence every year, out of a total of more than 35 million aircraft departures that now take off globally.

Intense turbulence is defined as when the up and down movements of a jet passing through disturbed air exert in excess of 1.5g-force on your body - enough to propel you from your seat if you weren't wearing a seatbelt.

As global warming shifts weather patterns, experts warn that flying could become less smooth: shifts in temperature and changing jet streams in the upper atmosphere are projected to boost the occurrence and strength of significant turbulence.