United Nigeria Airlines has confirmed another bird strike involving one of its aircraft, bringing the total number of incidents affecting its operations to three within 48 hours.
The development was confirmed in a statement signed by the airline’s Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, and released on Friday.
✈️ Latest Incident During Take Off from Benin City
The latest case involved an Embraer 190 aircraft departing Benin City Airport for Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The airline explained that the incident happened during Flight UN0561 scheduled for 16:20 hours on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
According to the statement:
“United Nigeria Airlines regrets to inform our valued passengers and the general public of yet another bird strike on our Embraer 190 aircraft.
“The incident occurred during take-off of Flight UN0561 from Benin City Airport to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, scheduled for 16:20 hours on Thursday, 16 April 2026, and damaged the Nose Landing Gear (NLG) door linkage of the aircraft.”
⚠️ Three Incidents Within 48 Hours
United Nigeria Airlines said the situation has become highly concerning, noting that the airline has now recorded three aircraft grounded due to bird strikes within 48 hours.
The airline further stated:
“This latest occurrence increases the number of aircraft grounded due to bird strikes to three (3) in less than 48 hours, marking the seventh such incident in 2026—an extremely concerning and unacceptable pattern given its impact on safety and operational reliability.”
The aircraft involved has been withdrawn from service for full inspection and repairs.
The airline added:
“Consistent with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations, as with previous incidents, to allow for detailed technical inspections and all necessary maintenance before returning to service.”
🛫 Reporting Policy on Bird Strikes
The airline clarified that it only reports bird strike incidents that result in aircraft being grounded.
It stated:
“While our operating aircraft have experienced multiple bird strike incidents, we report only those that have resulted in aircraft being grounded due to damage to part(s).”
🏢 Appeal to Aviation Authorities
United Nigeria Airlines urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to strengthen wildlife hazard management across airports.
It said:
“We urge the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen wildlife hazard management measures across major airports to minimise the risk of such occurrences.”
🙏 Apology to Passengers
The airline apologized to affected passengers and appealed for understanding.
It stated:
“We sincerely apologise to our valued passengers for any inconvenience to their travel plans resulting from service disruptions caused by multiple bird strikes. We kindly ask for your understanding, as safety remains our highest priority. Our team is working diligently to minimise disruptions and provide support to all affected travellers.”
📊 Background of Previous Incidents
The latest development follows earlier reports that the airline had recorded multiple bird strike incidents across different aircraft types, including CRJ-900 and Airbus A320-200 operations.
One of the earlier cases involved Flight UN0515 from Port Harcourt, where a bird strike affected the aircraft’s nose section while all safety procedures were observed.
Between January and April 2026, several aircraft were grounded due to similar incidents, contributing to operational disruptions across the airline.
