United Nigeria Airlines hit by third bird strike in 48 hours

United Nigeria Airlines has confirmed a third bird strike involving its aircraft within 48 hours.

This raised fresh concerns over aviation safety and operational disruptions.

The latest incident affected the airline’s Embraer 190 aircraft during take-off from Benin City Airport on a scheduled flight to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In a statement issued on Friday by Chibuike Uloka, the airline’s Public Relations Officer the company said the strike damaged the aircraft’s Nose Landing Gear door linkage.

“United Nigeria Airlines regrets to inform our valued passengers and the general public of yet another bird strike on our Embraer 190 aircraft,” the statement said.

According to the airline, the development has now grounded three aircraft in less than two days and marks the seventh bird strike recorded by the carrier in 2026.

“This latest occurrence increases 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,” the airline stated.

It added that the affected aircraft had been withdrawn from service immediately to allow for technical inspections and maintenance in line with safety regulations.

United Nigeria Airlines noted that it only publicly reports bird strike cases that result in aircraft damage serious enough to ground operations.

The carrier also called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to intensify wildlife hazard control measures at airports across the country.

“We urge the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to strengthen wildlife hazard management measures across major airports to minimise the risk of such occurrences,” it said.

The airline apologised to passengers affected by the disruption, assuring them that efforts were ongoing to reduce delays and provide support.

The latest case comes days after the airline reported separate bird strike incidents involving two other aircraft, further compounding pressure on its fleet and schedule.