United Nigeria Airlines said that it recorded the third consecutive bird strike in less than 48 hours.
The airline said that its Embraer 190 aircraft is the latest victim .
According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer United Nigeria Airlines, Chibuike Uloka explained that the incident occurred during take-off of Flight UN0561 from Benin City Airport to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja scheduled for 16:20 hours on Thursday, 16 April 2026.
Uloka further explained that the strike damaged the Nose Landing Gear (NLG) door linkage of the aircraft.
This latest occurrence, he informed increased the number of aircraft grounded due to bird strikes to three 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” Consistent with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations, as with previous incidents, to allow for detailed technical inspections and all necessary maintenance before returning to service.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 minimise the risk of such occurrences,” he said.
The airline sincerely apologised to its 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,” the airline pleaded.
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