Several Injured as Rough Air Strikes Delta Aircraft into Sydney
A number of individuals have been injured following a Delta jet from Los Angeles to Sydney was hit by rough air Friday morning.
The flight, numbered 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it touched down at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier stated. Four flight attendants required medical attention.
Emergency medical services reported they evaluated five patients, and took three of them to a medical facility with non-life-threatening injuries that comprised pain in the back and headaches. Those affected were between their 30s up to the 70s.
This marks the most recent case of planes encountering turbulence, with experts pointing out that global warming is a major factor.
On board were 245 people and fifteen staff members on the aircraft, the official added, clarifying that the plane landed "safely" at Sydney Airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday.
Paramedics reported they received a call just a mere three minutes ahead of the plane landed, and ambulances were ready and waiting at the airport.
Why plane turbulence is becoming more frequent - and often stronger.
In the previous year, two dozen individuals were injured when a Delta Airlines flight, travelling from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, hit "considerable" turbulence just a couple of hours into the transoceanic journey, and was forced to make an unscheduled landing.
Recently, travelers and staff on a Singapore Airlines flight experienced a frightening short but intense of severe turbulence. A traveler passed away and many were hurt, as individuals not fastened in lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.
Turbulence is a common occurrence while flying, and while instances of significant turbulence are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are statistically infrequent.
Estimates show that there are around 5,000 incidents of significant in-flight disturbance each year, out of a overall number of more than 35 million aircraft departures that now take off worldwide.
Strong atmospheric disturbance is defined as when the up and down movements of a plane experiencing disturbed air generate greater than 1.5g-force on your body - a strong enough force to propel you from your seat if you did not have on a safety belt.
As global warming alters atmospheric conditions, experts warn that air travel could become less smooth: temperature changes and shifting wind patterns in the upper atmosphere are projected to increase the occurrence and strength of severe turbulence.
