A Number of Hurt as Turbulence Impacts Delta Flight Arriving in Sydney, Australia
Several people have been injured after a Delta Airlines jet originating in LA to Sydney experienced significant turbulence on Friday morning.
Delta Flight 41 "encountered brief turbulence" as it touched down at the Sydney airport, an airline spokesperson stated. Four flight attendants required medical attention.
The New South Wales Ambulance Service reported they treated five patients, and transported three of them to hospital with minor injuries that included pain in the back and headaches. Those affected ranged from their 30s up to the 70s.
The event represents the newest example of commercial jets being hit by severe turbulence, with aviation specialists pointing out that shifting climate patterns is a significant contributor.
The aircraft was carrying 245 people and fifteen staff members on the Airbus A350, the official noted, stating that the plane landed "safely and normally" at Sydney Airport at 6:48 a.m. local time on the day in question.
Paramedics said they got a call just three minutes ahead of the plane landed, and ambulances were waiting on the tarmac.
Why in-flight bumpiness is growing more frequent - and more severe.
During the past year, 25 people were injured when a Delta Airlines flight, travelling from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, experienced "severe" rough air just 120 minutes into the lengthy trip, and was forced to make an precautionary landing.
Recently, passengers and crew on a Singapore Airlines jet endured a harrowing short but intense period of extreme instability. An individual lost their life and many were hurt, as those without seatbelts rose out of their seats and were slammed back.
Bumpy air is not uncommon on aircraft journeys, and while cases of strong or severe turbulence seem to be rising, they are remained quite uncommon.
Data suggests that there are around 5,000 incidents of severe or worse turbulence each year, out of a overall number of over 35 million aircraft departures that are conducted worldwide.
Strong atmospheric disturbance is described as when the up and down movements of a plane going through rough air masses exert greater than a significant G-force on your body - a strong enough force to propel you from your seat if you were not fastened by a restraint.
As climate change alters atmospheric conditions, specialists caution that commercial aviation could become less smooth: shifts in temperature and changing jet streams in the higher altitudes are expected to increase the frequency and intensity of significant turbulence.
