United Nigeria Airlines has grounded one of its aircraft after a bird strike incident disrupted operations and forced flight delays across its network, marking the fifth such occurrence recorded by the carrier in 2026.
The airline said the incident involved a CRJ-900 aircraft operating Flight UN0579 from Kano to Abuja, which struck birds while landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Wednesday, April 14, 2026.
According to the airline’s spokesperson, Chibuike Uloka, the aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service in line with strict safety procedures and will undergo full technical inspection and maintenance before returning to operation.
The disruption has led to delays and possible cancellations across the airline’s routes, with United Nigeria Airlines apologising to passengers and stressing that safety remains its highest priority despite the inconvenience.
The airline noted that all bird strike incidents recorded this year have been handled in compliance with aviation safety regulations, even as it acknowledged the operational challenges posed by their recurrence and assured passengers of continued adherence to safety standards.