Operations at United Nigeria Airlines have come under renewed strain following a third bird strike incident in less than 48 hours, raising fresh concerns over aviation safety and airport wildlife management in Nigeria.
The airline disclosed in a statement that its Embraer 190 operating Flight UN0561 from Benin City to Abuja suffered a bird strike during take-off on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The incident reportedly damaged the aircraft’s nose landing gear door linkage, forcing its immediate withdrawal from service.
The affected flight was scheduled to depart Benin City Airport at 16:20 hours en route to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
According to the airline, the latest occurrence brings the number of its aircraft grounded due to bird strikes to three within a 48-hour window, and the seventh such incident recorded in 2026.
Describing the trend as “extremely concerning and unacceptable”, the airline emphasised that all affected aircraft have been taken out of operation in line with strict safety protocols to allow for detailed inspections and necessary repairs.
While noting that bird strikes are not uncommon in aviation, the airline clarified that it only reports cases that result in operational disruption due to damage.
The development has prompted a renewed call on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to intensify wildlife hazard control measures across the country’s airports to reduce the frequency of such incidents.
Industry stakeholders have long identified bird strikes as a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s aviation sector, particularly during certain seasons when bird activity around airfields increases.
United Nigeria Airlines apologised to passengers affected by the disruptions, assuring that efforts are ongoing to minimise inconvenience and maintain schedule reliability despite the setbacks.
The airline reiterated that safety remains its top priority, even as the spate of incidents underscores broader concerns about infrastructure and environmental risk management within Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.