Multiple Affected as Rough Air Hits Delta Flight into Sydney
A number of individuals have been injured when a Delta jet originating in Los Angeles to Sydney experienced turbulence Friday morning.
Delta Flight 41 "experienced a brief period of turbulence" as it touched down at the Sydney airport, an airline spokesperson told. Four flight attendants were injured.
The New South Wales Ambulance Service reported they evaluated five individuals, and transported a trio to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries that included spinal discomfort and headaches. The injured were between their 30s up to the 70s.
It is the newest example of aircraft experiencing severe turbulence, with researchers pointing out that shifting climate patterns is a major factor.
There were nearly 250 travelers and fifteen staff members on the aircraft, the official added, clarifying that the plane touched down "safely" at the airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on Friday.
Emergency responders reported they got a call just only 180 seconds prior to the plane touched down, and response teams were standing by on the runway.
Why plane turbulence is getting increasingly prevalent - and often stronger.
Last year, 25 people sustained injuries when a Delta Airlines flight, flying from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, Netherlands, encountered "severe" rough air just 120 minutes into the lengthy trip, and was forced to make an emergency landing.
Recently, those on board on a certain international flight endured a terrifying short but intense period of extreme instability. One passenger lost their life and numerous people sustained injuries, as unbelted passengers were thrown from their seats and crashed back down.
In-flight turbulence is a common occurrence during flights, and while instances of significant turbulence appear to be increasing, they are remained quite uncommon.
Estimates show that there are an estimated five thousand cases of severe-or-greater turbulence every year, out of a total of in excess of 35 million flights that are conducted globally.
Severe turbulence is defined as when the up and down movements of a jet experiencing unstable air exert in excess of a significant G-force on your body - sufficient force to throw you from your seat if you weren't wearing a seatbelt.
As global warming shifts atmospheric conditions, specialists caution that commercial aviation could become bumpier: warming trends and changing jet streams in the jet stream level are likely to heighten the frequency and intensity of significant turbulence.
