United Nigeria Airlines has pulled a second aircraft from service in less than 24 hours after an Airbus A320-200 was struck by a bird on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the carrier’s sixth bird strike since January and a rate the airline called “deeply concerning and unacceptable.”
The incident hit Flight UN0515 from Port Harcourt during landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at its scheduled 15:45 hours arrival, damaging the nose section of the aircraft.
United Nigeria Airlines management said the jet was “immediately withdrawn from operations to undergo thorough technical inspections and any required maintenance” in line with its safety standards.
The A320 joins a CRJ-900 grounded Tuesday after a separate bird strike, leaving the airline with two aircraft out of service in a single day.
The carrier warned that “some flights across our network may experience disruptions or may not operate as scheduled” as it works to “minimize disruptions and provide support to all affected travelers.”
With six confirmed bird strikes in under four months, United Nigeria’s 2026 incident rate now averages one every 20 days, raising operational and safety concerns across the domestic sector.
Bird strikes force mandatory engineering checks regardless of visible damage, tightening fleet availability for an airline operating regional jets on high frequency routes.
The airline said it remains “fully committed to ensuring the safety, comfort, and reliability of our passengers expectations,” but described the trend as unacceptable due to its implications for “aviation safety and operational stability.”
Passengers are advised to confirm flight status before traveling as the airline adjusts schedules to absorb the back to back groundings.
