Flight operations at the United Nigeria Airlines have been thrown into disruption after a bird strike incident forced the airline to ground one of its aircraft, marking the fifth such occurrence recorded by the carrier in 2026.
The airline disclosed that the latest incident involved a CRJ-900 aircraft, which encountered a bird strike while landing in Abuja on Flight UN0579 from Kano.
The aircraft had departed the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State, en route to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja when the incident occurred.
The development was made public in a statement issued on Wednesday, April 14, 2026, by the airline’s spokesperson, Chibuike Uloka.
Confirming the situation, the airline said the affected aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service in line with established safety procedures.
“In line with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations to undergo comprehensive technical inspections and any required maintenance before being returned to service,” the airline stated.
As a result of the grounding, the airline warned of disruptions to its flight schedules across its network, noting that passengers may experience delays or cancellations.
“Consequently, some flights across our network may not operate as scheduled; however, safety remains our highest priority. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this unforeseen development may cause to our passengers’ travel plans,” the airline added.
Despite the recurrence of such incidents, United Nigeria Airlines emphasised that all bird strike cases recorded this year have been handled in accordance with aviation safety regulations.
“Each occurrence has been managed in full compliance with applicable aviation safety regulations and established operational procedures,” the statement read.
While the repeated bird strike incidents raise operational challenges for the airline, it maintained that safety remains non-negotiable, assuring passengers that all necessary precautions and industry standards will continue to guide its operations amid the disruptions.
In February, SaharaReporters reported that the United Nigeria Airlines announced a second bird strike incident in less than 24 hours involving one of its Airbus aircraft, raising concerns over operational disruptions across its network.
In a statement issued on Sunday, February 15, 2026, the airline disclosed that the latest incident occurred during the take-off of Flight UN0519 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport en route to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The statement was signed by the Public Relations Office of United Nigeria Airlines.
