United Nigeria Airlines has reported a third bird strike within 48 hours, causing further operational interruptions.
The carrier’s spokesperson, Chibuike Uloka, confirmed that the latest incident involved an Embraer 190 aircraft departing from Benin City Airport for Abuja.
The impact, which occurred on Thursday, April 16, 2026, damaged the aircraft’s nose landing gear door linkage. This marks the seventh time this year that the airline has faced such a challenge. In accordance with safety protocols, the plane has been removed from service to undergo technical inspections and repairs.
The airline highlighted that it only publicly discloses bird strikes when the damage is severe enough to ground a flight. The frequency of these events has prompted an urgent appeal to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to improve wildlife management at the country’s airports.
Earlier this week, the company noted that a CRJ-900 aircraft and an Airbus A320-200 had also sustained damage from similar collisions. These incidents have collectively impacted the airline’s schedule and fleet availability.
United Nigeria Airlines expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to travelers. The company stated that it prioritizes passenger security above all else and is currently working to manage the resulting flight disruptions while maintaining its rigorous maintenance standards.
