United Nigeria Airlines Faces Third Bird Strike in 48 Hours

United Nigeria Airlines confirmed its third bird strike in 48 hours, involving an Embraer 190 aircraft during flight UN0561 from Benin City Airport to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, scheduled for 16:20 on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The incident caused damage to the aircraft's nose and landing gear door linkage.

The airline expressed alarm over the increasing frequency of bird strikes, which have disrupted operations and led to the grounding of multiple aircraft. This incident marks the seventh bird strike in 2026, raising significant safety concerns.

United Nigeria Airlines emphasized its commitment to strict safety standards, stating that affected aircraft are immediately withdrawn for technical inspections before returning to service. The airline has urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to enhance wildlife hazard management measures at major airports to minimize the risk of such occurrences.

The airline apologized to affected passengers for the disruptions and reiterated that safety remains its highest priority.