And when it does, adults and children who are not buckled up can be seriously injured. Turbulence is air movement that usually cannot be seen or predicted. It can be created by a number of different conditions, including atmospheric pressures, jet streams, mountain waves, cold or warm fronts, or thunderstorms.
Turbulence can occur when the sky appears to be clear.
To help people prepare for unexpected turbulence, the Federal Aviation Administration is launching Turbulence Happens , a multimedia campaign to raise public awareness about airline passenger restraint and how to avoid injury caused by turbulence.