Multiple Affected as Turbulence Hits A Delta Airlines Flight Arriving in Sydney, Australia

Multiple passengers and crew were hurt when a Delta Airlines aircraft traveling from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia was hit by significant turbulence Friday morning.

Flight DL41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it landed at the Sydney airport, a company official informed. Several cabin crew members sustained injuries.

The New South Wales Ambulance Service said they treated a total of five people, and took three of them to a medical facility with minor injuries that included pain in the back and migraines. The injured were between their thirties and seventies.

The event represents the newest example of planes experiencing severe turbulence, with researchers pointing out that global warming is a key driver.

The aircraft was carrying 245 passengers and a crew of 15 on the Airbus A350, the Delta spokesperson noted, stating that the plane touched down "without further incident" at the airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on the day in question.

Paramedics said they were alerted just three minutes prior to the plane landed, and response teams were standing by on the runway.

The reasons turbulence is becoming increasingly prevalent - and potentially more dangerous.

Last year, twenty-five passengers and crew were hurt when a separate Delta aircraft, travelling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, encountered "significant" atmospheric disturbance just a couple of hours into the long-haul flight, and diverted for an unscheduled landing.

Recently, travelers and staff on a certain international flight endured a frightening five seconds period of extreme instability. An individual lost their life and dozens were injured, as those without seatbelts rose out of their seats and were slammed back.

In-flight turbulence is a common occurrence while flying, and while cases of significant turbulence appear to be increasing, they are remained quite uncommon.

Estimates show that there are around five thousand cases of severe or worse turbulence each year, out of a sum of over 35 million aircraft departures that are conducted worldwide.

Intense turbulence is described as when the up and down movements of a aircraft passing through disturbed air generate greater than 1.5g-force on your body - sufficient force to propel you from your seat if you weren't wearing a safety belt.

As climate change shifts weather patterns, experts warn that air travel could become bumpier: warming trends and shifting wind patterns in the higher altitudes are likely to boost the occurrence and strength of severe turbulence.