United Nigeria Airline suffers 3rd bird strike in 48hrs

By Nnasom David

United Nigeria Airlines has confirmed yet another bird strike involving its Embraer 190 aircraft, further deepening operational disruptions caused by repeated wildlife-related incidents across Nigerian airports.

This was contained in a statement signed by Chibuike Uloka, Public Relations Officer of United Nigeria Airlines.

The airline said the incident occurred during the take-off of Flight UN0561 from Benin City Airport to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, scheduled for 16:20 hours on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

According to the airline, the bird strike damaged the nose landing gear (NLG) door linkage of the aircraft, forcing an immediate withdrawal from service in line with its safety protocols.

The latest case brings to three the number of aircraft grounded due to bird strikes within the last 48 hours and marks the seventh such incident recorded by the airline in 2026.

United Nigeria Airlines described the pattern as “extremely concerning and unacceptable”, warning that the frequency of such occurrences poses a serious threat to safety and operational reliability.

“Consistent with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations, as with previous incidents, to allow for detailed technical inspections and all necessary maintenance before returning to service,” the airline stated.

The airline further disclosed that while its fleet has experienced multiple bird strike incidents, it only reports cases that result in aircraft grounding due to damage.

It called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to urgently strengthen wildlife hazard management systems across major airports to reduce the risk of recurrence.

“We urge the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to strengthen wildlife hazard management measures across major airports to minimise the risk of such occurrences,” it added.

The airline apologised to affected passengers for the disruption to their travel plans, noting that it is working to minimise inconvenience and support all impacted travellers.

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