Several Injured as Rough Air Strikes A Delta Airlines Aircraft Landing at Sydney
A number of individuals sustained injuries after a Delta Airlines aircraft from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia was hit by significant turbulence this past Friday.
The flight, numbered 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it landed at the Sydney airport, a representative for the carrier told. Four flight attendants were injured.
The New South Wales Ambulance Service stated they treated five individuals, and took three of them to hospital with minor injuries that included pain in the back and headaches. Those affected ranged from their 30s to 70s.
The event represents the most recent case of commercial jets being hit by severe turbulence, with researchers pointing out that global warming is a key driver.
On board were nearly 250 travelers and 15 crew members on the Airbus A350, the official said, adding that the plane landed "safely and normally" at Sydney Airport at 06:48 local time on Friday.
Paramedics reported they got a call just only 180 seconds before the plane touched down, and response teams were waiting on the tarmac.
The reasons turbulence is growing more common - and more severe.
Last year, twenty-five passengers and crew sustained injuries when a Delta Airlines flight, travelling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, Netherlands, experienced "considerable" atmospheric disturbance just two hours into the lengthy trip, and was forced to make an precautionary landing.
Recently, those on board on a certain international flight endured a frightening short but intense period of extreme instability. An individual passed away and dozens were injured, as individuals not fastened in lifted out of their seats and fell back down.
In-flight turbulence is not uncommon during flights, and while occurrences of rough conditions are reportedly becoming more frequent, they are still very rare.
Estimates show that there are around 5,000 incidents of severe-or-greater turbulence each year, out of a overall number of over 35 million journeys that currently occur worldwide.
Severe turbulence is described as when the up and down movements of a jet going through disturbed air generate greater than 1.5 times the force of gravity on your body - enough to lift you out of your seat if you weren't wearing a restraint.
As a changing climate alters weather patterns, specialists caution that commercial aviation could become more turbulent: shifts in temperature and changing jet streams in the upper atmosphere are expected to boost the regularity and severity of dangerous in-flight bumps.
