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Then dozens were injured and one passenger was killed by turbulence on a recent Singapore Airlines flight. A passenger aboard a private jet died during turbulence in the U.S. And a Turkish Airlines flight hit turbulence so bad it broke a flight attendant’s back. Evidence shows we’re not imagining it: turbulence is truly getting worse. Why? Climate change.

Experts have been warning use we’re headed for a bumpy ride for almost a decade. Climate change creates extreme temperature differentials in the sky. This contrast creates wind. Certain types of wind increase “clear air turbulence” (CAT). This simply means turbulence that is separate from flying through a thunderstorm or other visible storms.

A scientific paper published in 2017 predicted a 149 percent increase in the most severe CAT. Experts also predict an increase in “more vigorous” thunderstorms. While pilots can fly around or over these, changing course may increase the risk of airplanes flying into turbulence. The Turkish Airlines flight, for example, was flying over a thunderstorm and went through storm-related turbulence, not CAT.

A Singapore Airlines plane flying in full right profile view in cloudy blue skies
RyanFletcher via iStock

The irony is that the more we fly, the more jet fuel we burn, and the more carbon we release. Experts warn that as carbon emissions go up, those dangerous temperature differentials will only increase and turbulence may get worse than it is now.

This phenomenon become a negative feedback loop: as flying gets less comfortable, travelers may opt for greener forms of transportation, reduce carbon emissions, and eventually reduce turbulence. But that shift would take years, perhaps decades.

In the short term, Dr. John A. Knox, an aviation turbulence researcher at the University of Georgia, has some advice: buckle up.

“The severe injuries happen when people aren’t belted in, either the crew that are doing something and they’re not belted in or passengers who ignore the seatbelt sign and don’t understand why you have the seatbelt sign on in the middle of a flight. Well, this is why…You can ride through a lot with a good seatbelt, but if you’re not belted, and you briefly experience G forces that are circa one or more Gs, then you’re going to hit your head and break your neck. That’s how you can die.”

Dr. John A. Knox, University of Georgia

Next, you can find out which state has the most deadly airplane crashes, or hear about one passenger’s experience on the Singapore Airlines flight in the video below:

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Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.