Bird strikes ground two United Nigeria aircraft, disrupt flights

By Abubkar Yunusa

United Nigeria Airlines has warned of disruptions across its network after withdrawing two aircraft from service following separate bird strikes within 24 hours.
The airline said the latest incident occurred on Sunday during the take-off of Flight UN0519 from Abuja to Lagos.
In a statement, United Nigeria Airlines disclosed that the aircraft, an Airbus A320, suffered a bird strike on one of its engines while departing the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport en route to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The airline said the incident marked its second bird strike in less than 24 hours and the fourth since January 2026.
“In line with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the affected aircraft has been withdrawn from service for comprehensive technical inspections before returning to operations,” the statement said.
It added that the earlier incident had also led to the withdrawal of another Airbus aircraft, bringing the total number grounded within 24 hours to two.
“As a result, some flights across our network will be disrupted and may not operate as earlier scheduled,” the airline said.
United Nigeria Airlines apologised to passengers for the inconvenience, describing the development as “another bird strike too many”.
The airline said efforts were ongoing to minimise the disruption and assist affected travellers, while reaffirming its commitment to the highest safety standards.