Buckle up: Severe turbulence is on the rise

The plane suddenly feels like it’s dropping out of the sky: Even for a passenger with a sturdy stomach, turbulence is, at best, unpleasant. Photo: dpa

You may have never encountered a case of severe turbulence during a flight, but this phenomenon is on the rise. One study projects that air travellers will face more “hazardous” turbulence in the coming years due to climate change.

Most cases of turbulence are experienced only as a mild shaking in the aircraft and a slight loss of elevation. In rarer, more severe cases, passengers and crew members can be injured, however.