What Is Turbulence and Why Does It Happen?

Last updated: April 2026

You're settled into your seat, the seatbelt sign has just switched off, and then the aircraft gives a sudden jolt. The coffee in your cup ripples. Your stomach drops. You grip the armrest.

Turbulence is one of the most common fears for nervous flyers, and it's also one of the most frequently Googled aviation questions. What is turbulence, why does it happen, and — most importantly — is it dangerous?

The short answer is that turbulence is completely normal, it's extremely unlikely to cause any harm, and every single person on that aircraft has experienced it. But the longer answer is far more interesting.

What Is Turbulence?

Turbulence is the irregular motion of air — essentially, pockets of air moving in different directions, at different speeds, or in conflicting patterns. When an aircraft flies into turbulent air, it doesn't crash or lose control. It simply gets bounced around, like a car driving over a bumpy road.

The aircraft may shake, dip, rise, or lurch sideways. But modern commercial planes are built to withstand forces far greater than anything turbulence can produce. The structure of a commercial airliner is tested to endure loads many times higher than what even the most severe turbulence can generate.

Why Does Turbulence Happen?

There are several different types of turbulence, each caused by a different mechanism. Understanding them helps explain why turbulence happens and why some flights are bumpier than others.

Clear-air turbulence

This is the most surprising type for passengers because it occurs in completely clear skies — there are no clouds, no storms, no visible signs of anything wrong. Clear-air turbulence is caused by wind shear, which is a rapid change in wind speed or direction over a short distance. It's most common near the jet stream, a fast-flowing river of air that circles the Earth at high altitude.

Clear-air turbulence is actually the most common type encountered by aircraft at cruising altitude, and it's the hardest to predict because there's no visual warning. Weather radar can detect turbulence associated with clouds and storms, but it can't detect clear-air turbulence.

Convective turbulence

This is caused by thermal updrafts — pockets of warm air rising through cooler air. It's most common during the afternoon in summer, when the ground has been heated by the sun and creates rising columns of warm air. Convective turbulence is what you feel when flying through or near cumulus clouds. The bumpier the cloud looks from the outside, the bumpier the air inside will be.

Mountain-wave turbulence

When wind blows over a mountain range, it creates waves on the leeward (downwind) side, similar to the waves that form behind a rock in a flowing river. Aircraft flying near mountainous terrain — the Rockies, the Andes, the Alps, the Scottish Highlands — can encounter significant mountain-wave turbulence even on days that look perfectly calm on the ground.

Wake turbulence

This is created by the aircraft itself. As a wing generates lift, it creates swirling vortices of air at its tip. A large aircraft — especially a heavy one on approach — leaves behind these powerful vortices, which can affect following aircraft. This is why air traffic control maintains separation distances between planes on approach and takeoff.

Low-level turbulence

This occurs near the ground and is often caused by wind blowing over buildings, trees, and other obstacles. It's most common during landing and takeoff, particularly in windy conditions or near urban areas.

How Serious Is Turbulence?

This is the question everyone really wants answered, and the straightforward answer is: turbulence is almost never dangerous to passengers who are wearing their seatbelts.

The vast majority of turbulence encounters produce nothing more than a brief bumpiness. The seatbelt sign goes on, the cabin crew stop serving drinks, and a few minutes later it's over.

Severe turbulence is rare. It can cause unsecured objects to be tossed about and make it very difficult to walk in the cabin. Even in severe turbulence, the aircraft itself is not at risk. Commercial aircraft are designed and tested to handle forces far beyond what turbulence can produce.

The reason turbulence injuries happen — almost exclusively to passengers and crew who are not wearing their seatbelts. When clear-air turbulence strikes without warning, someone standing in the aisle or carrying a beverage cart can be thrown into the ceiling or cabin walls. This is why the advice is always the same: keep your seatbelt fastened whenever you're seated.

Can Turbulence Make a Plane Crash?

No. Not in the modern commercial aviation system.

There has never been a crash of a commercial aircraft caused solely by turbulence. While turbulence can cause structural damage in extreme cases, the structural margins of modern aircraft are so large that this would be extraordinary.

Pilots are trained to avoid turbulence whenever possible. They receive weather briefings before every flight, and modern aircraft are equipped with weather radar that can detect convective turbulence associated with storms. When turbulence is reported by other aircraft in the area, it's shared through pilot reports (PIREPs), and other pilots will try to route around it by climbing or descending to a different altitude.

That said, clear-air turbulence cannot be seen on radar and cannot be predicted with certainty. It can and does happen without warning. But again — it's uncomfortable, not dangerous.

When Is Turbulence Most Likely?

Certain conditions increase the likelihood of encountering turbulence:

Time of day: Afternoon flights are more likely to encounter convective turbulence due to daytime heating. Early morning and evening flights are generally smoother.

Season: Summer tends to produce more convective turbulence. Winter tends to produce more clear-air turbulence due to stronger jet streams.

Route: Flights over mountainous terrain are more likely to encounter mountain-wave turbulence. Transatlantic and transpacific flights crossing the jet stream are more likely to encounter clear-air turbulence.

Weather systems: Flights near thunderstorms, fronts, and low-pressure systems are more likely to experience turbulence. Pilots will always try to route around these areas.

What Can You Do About Turbulence?

If you're a nervous flyer, there are several practical things you can do:

Choose your seat carefully: The centre of the aircraft — over the wings — experiences the least amount of vertical movement during turbulence. The tail experiences the most. If turbulence anxiety is a concern, choose a seat over the wings.

Pick your flight time wisely: Morning flights tend to be smoother than afternoon flights, particularly in summer.

Pick your route wisely: Coastal and southern routes in summer tend to be smoother than inland routes, which are more prone to convective turbulence.

Take medication if needed: If you have severe anxiety about flying, talk to your doctor about anti-anxiety medication for the flight. This is a common and effective approach.

Just wear your seatbelt: This is the single most important safety measure. Keep your seatbelt fastened whenever you're seated, even when the seatbelt sign is off. Most turbulence encounters are unpredictable, and a fastened seatbelt is your best protection.

Can You See Turbulence in the Sky?

Not directly, but you can sometimes see its effects. When you see aircraft flying through or near clouds that look disturbed or rough, they may be encountering convective turbulence. You can also see contrails that look distorted or broken — a sign that clear-air turbulence is present at that altitude.

If you're on the ground watching aircraft approach an airport, you might notice planes making small course corrections or changes in altitude. Pilots are constantly adjusting to maintain a smooth approach, and turbulence is one of the reasons why.

What Plane lets you watch approaching aircraft in real time, showing altitude, speed, and heading. If you're at an airport and watching planes line up for landing, the app can tell you exactly which aircraft is on final approach, how fast it's going, and how high it is — useful context when you're watching it descend through what might be turbulent air.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is turbulence getting worse due to climate change? Some studies suggest that clear-air turbulence may be becoming more frequent due to changes in the jet stream caused by climate change. Research published in the journal Nature Climate Change has found evidence of an increase in moderate-or-greater turbulence over the North Atlantic since the 1970s. However, the changes are gradual, and pilots and airlines are well-equipped to handle them.

Why do pilots sometimes seem unconcerned about turbulence? Because in the vast majority of cases, they shouldn't be concerned. Turbulence is a normal part of flight, and aircraft are designed to handle it easily. Pilots treat it the same way a car driver treats a bumpy road — slow down, hold the wheel steady, and carry on.

Does turbulence affect small planes more than large planes? Yes. Smaller aircraft are more affected by turbulence because they have less mass and less wing surface area to smooth out the air movements. A small Cessna will feel turbulence much more noticeably than a Boeing 747. This is why you almost never hear about turbulence on road trips.

Can you fly above the turbulence? Often, yes. Pilots will try to change altitude to find smoother air. However, this isn't always possible — clear-air turbulence can exist at all altitudes, and changing altitude may require air traffic control clearance or may not improve the situation.

The Bottom Line

Turbulence is an unavoidable part of flight, but it's also one of the least dangerous aspects of flying. It's uncomfortable, sometimes startling, and occasionally quite rough. But it is not a threat to the aircraft or to anyone wearing their seatbelt.

Every single flight experiences turbulence. Every single pilot has encountered it. And every single aircraft has landed safely after flying through it.

If you know what turbulence is and why it happens, the next time your aircraft hits a bump, you'll know exactly what's going on — and you'll be able to relax.

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