United Nigeria Airlines says it has withdrawn one of its aircraft from operations after it suffered a bird strike during take-off.
In a statement on Friday, the airline said the incident
occurred during the take-off of flight UN0561 from Benin City to the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday.
United Nigeria said the bird strike damaged the nose landing
gear door linkage of the Embraer 190 aircraft.
“This latest occurrence increases the number of aircraft
grounded due to bird strikes to three (3) 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,” the statement reads.
“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standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations, as with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 parts).”
UNITED NIGERIA ASKS FAAN TO STRENGTHEN WILDLIFE HAZARD
MANAGEMENT MEASURES
The airline called on the Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen wildlife hazard management measures at airports to
reduce the risk of such occurrences.
United Nigeria apologised to passengers for disruptions to
travel plans, adding that efforts are underway to minimise the impact.
“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 said.
The latest incident follows two similar occurrences earlier
in the week.
On April 14, the airline reported a bird strike involving a
CRJ-900 aircraft during the landing of Flight UN0579 from Kano to Abuja.
A day later, another bird strike affected an Airbus A320-200
aircraft operating Flight UN0515 from Port Harcourt to Abuja, damaging the nose
section on landing.
In February, the airline withdrew two aircraft from service
after separate bird strike incidents, while on March 29, it announced flight
disruptions following a bird strike involving one of its Airbus A320 aircraft.
Speaking on the issue during Politics Today on Channels
Television, Obiora Okonkwo, executive chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, said
bird strikes continue to pose operational and financial challenges for the
airline.
“When that happens, you ground the aircraft. It disrupts
your schedule. It costs you maintenance money, and at the end of the day, we
still pay what is due to all the agencies responsible,” he said.
Okonkwo added that despite the challenges, the airline
remains committed to its operations, expressing hope that the situation will
improve.
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