Several Affected as Rough Air Impacts A Delta Airlines Aircraft Landing at Sydney

A number of individuals sustained injuries following a Delta jet originating in Los Angeles to Sydney experienced significant turbulence Friday morning.

The flight, numbered 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it touched down at the Sydney airport, a company official told. A number of the onboard staff were injured.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service stated they evaluated five patients, and transported three of them to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries that included pain in the back and headaches. Those affected ranged from their 30s up to the 70s.

It is the latest incident of aircraft being hit by severe turbulence, with experts pointing out that shifting climate patterns is a major factor.

There were nearly 250 travelers and 15 crew members on the aircraft, the representative noted, clarifying that the plane landed "without further incident" at Sydney Airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on Friday.

Paramedics reported they got a call just only 180 seconds before the plane landed, and ambulances were ready and waiting at the airport.

Why in-flight bumpiness is getting increasingly prevalent - and more severe.

During the past year, 25 people were injured when a separate Delta aircraft, on a route from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, hit "considerable" atmospheric disturbance just 120 minutes into the long-haul flight, and diverted for an emergency landing.

Earlier this year, those on board on a certain international flight endured a terrifying short but intense period of extreme instability. One passenger lost their life and many were hurt, as individuals not fastened in rose out of their seats and fell back down.

In-flight turbulence is a common occurrence while flying, and while occurrences of strong or severe turbulence seem to be rising, they are statistically infrequent.

Estimates show that there are around five thousand cases of severe or worse turbulence annually, out of a sum of in excess of 35 million aircraft departures that are conducted around the world.

Severe turbulence is defined as when the vertical motions of a jet going through unstable air generate greater than a significant G-force on your body - sufficient force to throw you from your seat if you were not fastened by a seatbelt.

As climate change modifies weather patterns, experts warn that air travel could become bumpier: temperature changes and changing jet streams in the upper atmosphere are likely to boost the regularity and severity of severe turbulence.