United Nigeria Airlines Records 3rd Bird Strike In 48 Hours

United Nigeria Airlines has regrettably informed its valued passengers and the general public of yet another bird strike on its Embraer 190 aircraft.

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, 16th April 2026, and damaged the Nose Landing Gear (NLG) door linkage of the aircraft.

Chibuike Uloka, mnipr, the Public Relations Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, while throwing more light on the incidents said, “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. Consistent with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations, as with previous incidents, to allow for detailed technical inspections and all necessary maintenance before returning to service.”

“While our operating aircraft have experienced multiple bird strike incidents, we report only those that have resulted in aircraft being grounded due to damage part(s). We urge the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen wildlife hazard management measures across major airports to minimize the risk of such occurrences.”

“We sincerely apologize to our valued passengers for any inconvenience to their travel plans resulting from service disruptions caused by multiple bird strikes. We kindly ask for your understanding, as safety remains our highest priority. Our team is working diligently to minimize disruptions and provide support to all affected travelers.”