Turbulence can be an unsettling experience on any flight, no matter how experienced of a traveler you might be. At times, it can feel like the plane is truly tumbling right out of the sky, although a bumpy ride is hardly abnormal. Few of us realize exactly what’s going on during turbulence, but thanks to a recent interview with a pilot via USA Today, we now have a clearer picture of what happens.
You know that all-too-familiar feeling when an airplane starts to experience turbulence. What once felt like smooth sailing suddenly becomes an adrenaline-pumping experience that often causes an intense grip on your armrest.
Witthaya Prasongsin / Getty Images
Turbulence can make passengers feel as though they’re falling long distances when in reality, it’s only a matter of feet.
Kryssia Campos / Getty Images
The human body notices how fast it’s going up and down more intensely than the overall distance. In the rarest of cases, turbulence can cause the plane to fall up to 100 feet, but most cases are much less than that.
Phoebe Secker / Getty Images
When’s the last time you experienced intense turbulence on an airplane? Be sure to share with us in the comments below!
Witthaya Prasongsin / Getty Images
Kryssia Campos / Getty Images
Phoebe Secker / Getty Images
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
