United Nigeria Airlines Grounds Aircraft After Fifth Bird Strike in Four Months

United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has recorded another bird strike incident involving one of its aircraft, marking the fifth such occurrence since January 2026 and raising fresh concerns about aviation safety in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the airline’s Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, disclosed that the latest incident happened during the landing of flight UN0579, which flew from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

According to the statement, the CRJ-900 aircraft encountered a bird strike while approaching Abuja at about 6:15 p.m.

Uloka noted that despite the repeated incidents, all cases have been handled in line with aviation safety regulations and standard operational procedures.

“This is the fifth bird strike involving our aircraft since January 2026. Each incident has been managed in full compliance with safety guidelines,” he said. “We appreciate the understanding of our passengers and remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability.”

Following standard safety protocols, the affected aircraft has been withdrawn from service for thorough technical checks and necessary maintenance.

The airline warned that the temporary grounding of the aircraft could disrupt some of its scheduled flights across its network. However, it reassured passengers that safety remains its top priority and apologised for any inconvenience caused.

“We sincerely apologise for any disruption to travel plans resulting from this unforeseen development,” the statement added.

Bird strikes remain a significant challenge for flight operations in Nigeria, particularly during take-off and landing when aircraft are most vulnerable. Aviation experts have repeatedly urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen wildlife control measures at airports to reduce such risks.