United Nigeria Airlines has suspended operations of two of its aircraft after they were hit by bird strikes, a development the airline says will lead to disruptions across its flight network.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Sunday, the airline disclosed that it recorded a second bird strike within 24 hours, bringing the total number of such incidents to four since the beginning of January 2026.
The latest occurrence involved one of its Airbus A320 aircraft operating Flight UN0519 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to the airline, the aircraft was struck by birds during take-off, forcing its immediate withdrawal from service in line with strict aviation safety procedures. The airline explained that the affected aircraft will undergo extensive technical inspections and maintenance checks before being cleared to return to operations.
The development comes barely hours after another United Nigeria aircraft was similarly grounded due to a bird strike, leaving the carrier with two planes out of service in less than one day. As a result, the airline warned that several scheduled flights across its routes may experience delays, cancellations, or rescheduling.
Describing the incidents as deeply concerning, the airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience, noting that safety remains its highest priority. It assured customers that measures are being taken to manage the disruptions, including rebooking affected passengers, providing timely updates, and offering necessary assistance at airports.
Aviation experts have linked the rising cases of bird strikes at Nigerian airports to poor wildlife management around airport environments, calling on relevant authorities to intensify bird control measures to safeguard flight operations.
United Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards, stressing that no compromise would be made when passenger safety is at stake.
