What is turbulence in flight and when it becomes dangerous to passengers and crew

Delta Air Line flights from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam hit severe turbulence on Wednesday, with 25 people on board the hospital, forcing a detour to Minnesota, highlighting the danger of flying in unstable air.

There have been reports of flights that have affected several turbulence this year.

Turbulence-related deaths are extremely rare, but injuries tallies have grown over the years. Some meteorologists and aviation analysts have also noticed an increasing number of reports of turbulent encounters, pointing out what climate change does to flight conditions.

However, most airplanes hit bumpy air are minor, and airlines are trying to improve safety. Experts emphasize wearing seat belts whenever possible and advise travelers to stay vigilant.

What causes turbulence

Turbulence is essentially unstable air and moves in an unpredictable way. Most people associate it with a violent storm. But the most dangerous is clear air turbulence, which often occurs without visible warnings.

Turbulence of air is most common in or near high altitudes of air called jet streams. The culprit is the shear of the wind. This is when two huge atmospheric masses that are close to each other travel at different speeds. If the difference in velocity is large enough, the atmosphere cannot handle the strain and enters turbulent patterns like vortices in the water.

Recent flights shaking by turbulence

In June, five people were taken to North Carolina Hospital for evaluation after a US Air flight from Miami struck turbulence on its way to Loweredalam International Airport. The plane landed safely.

Earlier that month, a violent storm in southern Germany was forced to land Ryanair’s flights in an emergency after violent turbulence injured nine people, German police said. The flight traveled from Berlin to Milan, with 179 passengers and six crew members. Eight passengers and one crew were injured.

In March, United Airlines flights from San Francisco to Singapore experienced severe turbulence over the Philippines. The plane carried 174 passengers and 14 crew members. Five people were injured and the plane safely landed in Singapore.

Due to turbulence, several flights were decouped to Waco, Texas on March 3rd. Five people were injured on a United Express plane from Springfield, Missouri to Houston.

Last year, Italian authorities began an investigation after two EasyJet flight attendants were injured when a flight from Corfu to London’s Gatwick airport was alleviated by turbulence. The pilot made an unplanned landing in Rome.

In May 2024, a 73-year-old British man died, and dozens were injured in severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight. His death was under investigation. Authorities said he may have had a heart attack.

It is unknown how common injuries are

Tracking the number of turbulence-related injuries around the world is difficult. However, some countries have made public domestic data.

Most reports of turbulence in flight from 2009 to 2018 caused one or more serious injuries and no damage to the plane, reported the National Transportation Safety Board.

Between 2009 and 2024, 207 people were seriously injured during turbulence sufficient to require hospital treatment for at least two days, according to the NTSB. Most of them are flight attendants and are more likely to leave their seats during the flight.

How pilots try to avoid it

The pilot uses weather radar displays to avoid partial turbulence. Sometimes they can simply fly around looking at thunderstorms.

But clear air turbulence is “a completely different animal,” said Doug Moss, a former airline pilot and safety consultant. It can be devastating, he said, “Because the time before the incident is very calm and people are out of the guard.”

Moss said the air traffic controller warns the pilot after another plane falls into a transparent turbulence. He said many pilots have also been planning to avoid those areas in search of signs of wind shear.

Modern planes are strong enough to handle almost all turbulence. Cabin areas such as overhead bins “does not affect the structural integrity of the plane,” Moss said.

Scientists see the impact of climate change

Some scientists note the increasing number of reports of turbulent encounters. Several researchers point to potential climate impacts as one possible explanation.

Professor Thomas Guinn of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University predicts that climate change could change the jet stream and increase wind shear.

Paul Williams, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in the UK, said there is “strong evidence that turbulence is increasing due to climate change.”

In a statement last year, Williams said his research team found severe, transparent turbulence in the North Atlantic had increased by 55% since 1979. Team forecasts show that severe jetstream turbulence could double or triple in the coming decades if global conditions continue as expected.

Larry Kornman, a project scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research at the National Science Foundation, said there could be an increase in overall air traffic that could increase turbulent encounters.

What tourists can do to keep them safe

In short, it’s a buckle-up. Turbulence can be difficult to predict, but experts emphasize that, whenever possible, the initial line of defense continues to hold the seat belt in place.

Airlines are taking safety measures. Last November, Southwest Airlines said it had previously ended cabin services to ensure passengers return to their seats and tighten their seat belts faster.

The change was intended to “reduce the risk of turbulent injuries during flight,” the company said.

Also last year, South Korean Airlines decided to stop offering its beloved instant noodles, Shin Ramune.

“This decision is part of an aggressive safety measure in response to increased turbulence aimed at preventing burn accidents,” the Seoul-based airline said in a statement.

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