United Nigeria Airlines has suffered yet another bird strike, forcing the grounding of one of its aircraft in what marks the fifth such incident for the carrier this year alone.
The airline disclosed that a CRJ-900 aircraft encountered a bird strike while landing in Abuja on Flight UN0579 from Kano. The flight had departed Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport en route to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport when the incident occurred.
The airline, in a statement made available to The PUNCH by its spokesperson Chibuike Uloka on Wednesday, said the aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service in line with safety protocols. punchng
“In line with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations to undergo comprehensive technical inspections and any required maintenance before being returned to service,” the airline stated.
The development is expected to affect flight schedules across the airline’s network. The airline appealed for patience, assuring customers that every decision taken prioritises their safety.
While acknowledging that this is the fifth bird strike incident involving its fleet this year, the airline maintained that all cases have been handled in accordance with aviation standards, stating that “each occurrence has been managed in full compliance with applicable aviation safety regulations and established operational procedures.”
The latest incident adds to a troubling pattern for the airline in 2026. Previous strikes this year included incidents on February 12 in Port Harcourt, February 14 on an Asaba-Lagos flight, and a fourth on February 15 during takeoff from Abuja, which the airline itself described as “another bird strike too many.”
Accordingto Sahara Reporters, a fifth strike was also recorded on March 29 on an Asaba-Lagos Airbus A320 flight.
The recurring incidents have renewed calls for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to strengthen wildlife hazard management across the country’s airports.
