Multiple Affected as In-Flight Disturbance Strikes Delta Plane Arriving in Sydney, Australia
Several people have been injured when a Delta Airlines aircraft originating in Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia encountered rough air Friday morning.
Delta Flight 41 "encountered brief turbulence" as it landed at the Sydney airport, a company official told. A number of the onboard staff were injured.
The New South Wales Ambulance Service stated they assessed five patients, and transported three to the hospital with minor injuries that such as spinal discomfort and migraines. The patients' ages were between their thirties and seventies.
It is the latest incident of planes experiencing severe turbulence, with researchers pointing out that global warming is a key driver.
The aircraft was carrying nearly 250 travelers and fifteen staff members on the wide-body jet, the representative added, stating that the plane arrived "safely" at the airport at 06:48 local time on Friday.
The NSW Ambulance Service said they got a call just only 180 seconds ahead of the plane arrived, and ambulances were ready and waiting at the airport.
Why plane turbulence is getting more frequent - and more severe.
Last year, twenty-five passengers and crew were hurt when a Delta Airlines flight, flying from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, Netherlands, encountered "severe" turbulence just a couple of hours into the transoceanic journey, and diverted for an precautionary landing.
Recently, passengers and crew on a certain international flight went through a frightening short but intense bout of severe turbulence. One passenger lost their life and numerous people sustained injuries, as those without seatbelts were thrown from their seats and crashed back down.
Turbulence is a common occurrence on aircraft journeys, and while occurrences of rough conditions are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are still very rare.
Research indicates that there are around 5,000 incidents of severe or worse turbulence every year, out of a total of over 35 million journeys that are conducted worldwide.
Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the vertical motions of a aircraft going through rough air masses apply in excess of a significant G-force on your body - a strong enough force to lift you out of your seat if you did not have on a seatbelt.
As a changing climate shifts weather patterns, experts warn that commercial aviation could become less smooth: temperature changes and changing jet streams in the higher altitudes are projected to increase the occurrence and strength of dangerous in-flight bumps.
