Several Injured as Turbulence Strikes A Delta Airlines Aircraft Landing at Sydney
A number of individuals have been injured following a Delta Airlines jet originating in Los Angeles to Sydney encountered turbulence Friday morning.
The flight, numbered 41 "went through a short bout of rough air" as it landed at Sydney Airport, a company official stated. Four flight attendants required medical attention.
Local paramedics reported they treated a total of five people, and took a trio to a medical facility with minor injuries that such as spinal discomfort and headaches. The injured ranged from their thirties and seventies.
This marks the latest incident of commercial jets encountering severe turbulence, with experts indicating that shifting climate patterns is a major factor.
There were 245 people and 15 crew members on the aircraft, the official said, stating that the plane landed "safely" at Sydney Airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday.
Emergency responders reported they got a call just three minutes ahead of the plane arrived, and emergency vehicles were ready and waiting at the airport.
The reasons turbulence is getting increasingly prevalent - and potentially more dangerous.
Last year, two dozen individuals were hurt when a Delta Airlines flight, flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, experienced "considerable" rough air just 120 minutes into the long-haul flight, and was forced to make an precautionary landing.
Earlier this year, passengers and crew on a certain international flight endured a terrifying short but intense period of extreme instability. One passenger died and dozens were injured, as individuals not fastened in lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.
Turbulence is not uncommon on aircraft journeys, and while cases of significant turbulence seem to be rising, they are still very rare.
Estimates show that there are an estimated five thousand cases of severe-or-greater turbulence every year, out of a overall number of in excess of 35 million flights that currently occur worldwide.
Strong atmospheric disturbance is categorized as when the sudden jolts of a aircraft experiencing unstable air generate in excess of a significant G-force on your body - sufficient force to propel you from your seat if you were not fastened by a safety belt.
As global warming modifies the conditions in the sky, experts warn that air travel could become more turbulent: temperature changes and shifting wind patterns in the higher altitudes are projected to boost the occurrence and strength of dangerous in-flight bumps.
