United Nigeria Airlines has reported another bird strike involving one of its aircraft, forcing the airline to ground two planes within 24 hours and disrupting its flight operations. The latest incident occurred during the landing of its Airbus A320-200 aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, operating Flight UN0515 from Port Harcourt, affecting the nose section of the aircraft, which was immediately withdrawn from operations.
The airline described the development as “deeply concerning and unacceptable due to its implications for aviation safety and operational stability.” The latest incident came barely 24 hours after a similar occurrence on Tuesday, when the airline recorded a bird strike involving one of its CRJ-900 aircraft during the landing of Flight UN0579 from Kano to Abuja. The airline noted that Tuesday’s incident was the fifth bird strike involving its aircraft since January 2026; by Wednesday, the number had risen to six.
The back-to-back incidents have now left two aircraft out of service within 24 hours, affecting scheduled operations across its network. “As a result, some flights across our network may experience disruptions or may not operate as scheduled,” the airline said, adding that efforts are ongoing to minimise the impact on passengers. While no injuries were reported, the recurrence of such incidents within a short period has raised concerns about bird strike risks and wildlife management around Nigerian airports.
Bird strikes, collisions between birds and aircraft that occur mostly during takeoff and landing, can damage critical components such as the nose, windscreen, and engines. The incidents are likely to renew attention on aviation authorities and airport operators over the effectiveness of existing wildlife hazard control measures, especially as such occurrences appear to be happening with increasing frequency. The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience, stating that its team is working diligently to minimise disruptions and provide support to all affected travellers.
From an economic perspective, the grounding of two aircraft reduces the airline’s available capacity, potentially leading to flight cancellations, passenger rebooking costs, and reputational damage. For the broader aviation sector, recurring bird strikes at major airports like Abuja signal potential gaps in wildlife management protocols that require urgent attention from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and other regulatory bodies. The financial impact of aircraft downtime, inspection costs, and repairs adds pressure to an industry already grappling with high Jet A1 prices and foreign exchange challenges.
