Multiple Affected as Rough Air Strikes A Delta Airlines Flight into Sydney
Multiple passengers and crew were hurt when a Delta Airlines aircraft originating in LA to Sydney experienced rough air this past Friday.
The flight, numbered 41 "encountered brief turbulence" as it touched down at Sydney Airport, a representative for the carrier informed. Several cabin crew members required medical attention.
Emergency medical services stated they treated five patients, and transported three of them to hospital with relatively minor issues that comprised pain in the back and head pain. Those affected ranged from their 30s up to the 70s.
This marks the latest incident of planes experiencing atmospheric disturbance, with experts indicating that global warming is a major factor.
The aircraft was carrying 245 people and fifteen staff members on the wide-body jet, the official noted, adding that the plane touched down "without further incident" at Sydney Airport at shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday.
Paramedics reported they were alerted just only 180 seconds prior to the plane landed, and response teams were ready and waiting at the airport.
Why plane turbulence is getting increasingly prevalent - and potentially more dangerous.
During the past year, twenty-five passengers and crew were injured when another Delta jet, on a route from Salt Lake City, Utah to Amsterdam, Netherlands, encountered "considerable" atmospheric disturbance just a couple of hours into the lengthy trip, and was forced to make an emergency landing.
Recently, passengers and crew on a certain international flight endured a harrowing short but intense bout of severe turbulence. An individual lost their life and many were hurt, as those without seatbelts lifted out of their seats and were slammed back.
Bumpy air is a common occurrence while flying, and while occurrences of rough conditions appear to be increasing, they are remained quite uncommon.
Data suggests that there are approximately 5,000 incidents of severe or worse turbulence every year, out of a overall number of more than 35 million aircraft departures that are conducted around the world.
Strong atmospheric disturbance is described as when the vertical motions of a aircraft going through rough air masses generate more than 1.5g-force on your body - enough to lift you out of your seat if you did not have on a safety belt.
As a changing climate modifies atmospheric conditions, experts warn that air travel could become bumpier: shifts in temperature and altered air currents in the higher altitudes are projected to increase the occurrence and strength of severe turbulence.