News that 10 people were seriously injured after hitting unexpected turbulence aboard an American Airlines flight corroborates findings from a recent climate change study forecasting that fliers should begin bracing themselves for a bumpier ride.
Over the weekend, a flight traveling from Greece to Philadelphia was hit by severe turbulence just before landing, sending three passengers and seven crew members to hospital.
It's the latest incident of extreme turbulence to make headlines for terrifying passengers.
In June, a United Airlines flight traveling from Panama to Houston was also hit by extreme turbulence, slamming one passenger into the ceiling and leaving a dozen other fliers with bumps, bruises, and chest and neck pain.
According to scientist Paul Williams of the University of Reading, this is just the beginning.
In his study published in the this spring, Williams predicts that incidents of moderate-to-severe turbulence could increase by 127 per cent, while severe turbulence could spike by 149 per cent on transatlantic flights in the near future.
Severe turbulence is defined as a force strong enough to catapult unbuckled passengers and crew around the aircraft cabin.
While there are studies aplenty detailing the effects of climate change for life on terra firma, Williams' study shows that global warming will also have a major impact on air travel, generating stronger wind shears within the jet stream.
Wind shears are a major cause of turbulence when they become unstable.
-- Undetectable turbulence --
What's particularly worrying about clear-air turbulence (CAT) -- the type of turbulence attributed to climate change -- is that it's undetectable by satellites, on-board radar, or pilots, and therefore difficult to avoid, he adds.
"For most passengers, light turbulence is nothing more than an annoying inconvenience that reduces their comfort levels, but for nervous fliers even light turbulence can be distressing," Williams said in a statement.
"However, even the most seasoned frequent fliers may be alarmed at the prospect of a 149 per cent increase in severe turbulence, which frequently hospitalizes air travelers and flight attendants around the world."
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, 44 people received serious injuries from turbulent flights in the U.S. in 2016, compared to 21 in 2015 and 31 in 2014.
A serious injury is defined as requiring more than 48 hours of hospitalization.
To stay safe on board, the FAA reminds passengers to wear a seat belt at all times while seated, and use an approved child safety seat or device for children under the age of two.
