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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

United Nigeria Airlines records third bird strike in 48 hours

From The Punch · (2d ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • United Nigeria Airlines reported a third bird strike incident within 48 hours, involving an Embraer 190 aircraft during take-off.
  • The airline stated that three aircraft are now grounded due to bird strikes, marking the seventh such incident in 2026.
  • United Nigeria Airlines urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to enhance wildlife hazard management measures.

United Nigeria Airlines is sounding the alarm over a concerning pattern of bird strike incidents, with three aircraft now grounded due to such occurrences within a mere 48-hour period. The latest incident involved an Embraer 190 aircraft during take-off from Benin City, sustaining damage to its Nose Landing Gear door linkage. This marks the seventh bird strike incident for the airline in 2026, a frequency the airline describes as 'alarming' and 'unacceptable' given its impact on safety and operational reliability.

United Nigeria Airlines regrets to inform our valued passengers and the general public of yet another bird strike on our Embraer 190 aircraft.

— Chibuike UlokaPublic Relations Officer, United Nigeria Airlines, in a statement detailing the latest bird strike incident.

The airline has reiterated its commitment to stringent safety standards, with the damaged aircraft immediately withdrawn from service for thorough inspection and maintenance. While United Nigeria Airlines only reports incidents that lead to aircraft grounding, the sheer number of occurrences highlights a systemic issue that demands urgent attention. The airline is calling on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to bolster its wildlife hazard management protocols across major airports to mitigate these risks.

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.

— Chibuike UlokaPublic Relations Officer, United Nigeria Airlines, providing specifics of the bird strike incident.

This situation is more than just an operational inconvenience; it directly impacts passenger confidence and the reliability of air travel in Nigeria. The disruptions caused by these grounded flights necessitate a coordinated effort between airlines and aviation authorities to ensure the safety and efficiency of our skies. Passengers affected by these delays are understandably frustrated, and the airline's apology underscores the seriousness of the situation while emphasizing that safety remains paramount.

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.

— Chibuike UlokaPublic Relations Officer, United Nigeria Airlines, highlighting the alarming frequency of bird strikes.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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