🕒 Last updated on July 31, 2025
Turbulence is a common part of flying. It happens when a plane moves through unstable air, causing sudden bumps or drops. But lately, passengers are reporting more violent and unexpected turbulence during flights.
Turbulence in the Skies Is Getting Worse
While flying used to be mostly smooth, more and more people are now sharing stories of drinks flying, heads bumping the ceiling, and being tossed in their seats. What’s causing this sudden change?
The truth is that turbulence isn’t just becoming more frequent—it’s also becoming more dangerous. In one recent flight, passengers were thrown from their seats. Items flew across the cabin. Some people suffered serious injuries like broken bones. Others were left terrified and in shock.
Most cases of turbulence don’t end in tragedy, but there are rare moments where lives are lost. Since 1981, experts estimate that only four deaths have been linked to turbulence. However, the number of injuries is much higher. In the United States alone, there have been over 200 severe injuries since 2009. Many of those injured were crew members who weren’t seated when turbulence struck.
Air turbulence has increased in frequency and strength, according to experts. The reason? Changes in the earth’s climate.
Climate Change Is Stirring Up the Skies
As the planet warms, the air in our atmosphere changes. This shift is making turbulence worse. There are three main types of turbulence:
- Convective turbulence happens during thunderstorms and is caused by air moving up and down quickly.
- Orographic turbulence occurs when air moves around mountains.
- Clear-air turbulence is invisible and strikes without warning.
Turbulence in clear air is particularly dangerous since pilots are unable to anticipate it. It can happen even in blue skies, far away from storms. Pilots may not have time to warn passengers to fasten their seatbelts.
Convective turbulence is also increasing. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, and this can lead to more powerful storms. These storms form tall, thick clouds called cumulonimbus clouds. Inside these clouds, the air can move violently—up and down, side to side—making it very hard for planes to fly through safely.
In one recent incident, a flight was passing over an area with forming storm clouds. Within seconds, the plane dropped nearly 180 feet. The passengers felt like they were on a rollercoaster. Coffee spilled. Devices flew. People cried. It only lasted 19 seconds—but it felt like forever.
Researchers have shown that lightning strikes can jump by 12% for every degree Celsius as the global temperature rises. One of the main indicators of turbulence is these clouds covered in lightning. Pilots are now spotting more large storm systems—sometimes stretching over 80 miles wide. Such activity used to be rare. Now it’s becoming normal.
Global Routes and Trouble Zones Growing
The North Atlantic is one of the busiest routes for international flights, especially those traveling between Europe and North America. Over the past 40 years, the skies over this region have seen a 55% increase in severe turbulence. And it’s not just limited to this area.
Air traffic reports show that turbulence is rising in many other parts of the world too. These include East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, the North Pacific, and across the U.S. and Canada.
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About 5,000 flights are thought to experience severe or worse turbulence annually. Out of more than 35 million global flights, this number may seem small. But the impact is real. Nearly 40% of air traveler injuries in 2023 alone were brought on by turbulence. That number is expected to grow if current trends continue.
Despite all the modern technology onboard planes—like radar systems and weather trackers—turbulence caused by climate-related changes can still surprise pilots. Some clouds hide bigger dangers inside. Even advanced instruments may not always predict what’s coming.
Airlines are updating their flight paths to avoid dangerous areas when possible. But with storm clouds growing larger and wind patterns shifting unpredictably, it’s not always easy to steer clear. Some types of turbulence, like the invisible clear-air kind, can’t be detected until they hit.
Pilots still do their best to avoid stormy areas. They’re trained to recognize dangerous cloud formations and to adjust altitude or route when needed. But as weather patterns change, even experienced crews are facing new challenges in the air.