April 15, (THEWILL) — United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has recorded its fifth bird strike incident since January, a development that has disrupted parts of its flight operations and brought renewed attention to the growing challenge of bird hazards in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The airline confirmed the latest incident in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos by its Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, noting that the bird strike occurred on Tuesday evening during the landing of Flight UN0579 from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
According to the airline, the aircraft, a CRJ-900, landed safely with no injuries recorded among passengers or crew, reflecting the effectiveness of established safety and operational protocols.
However, in line with global aviation safety standards, the aircraft has been withdrawn from service to undergo comprehensive technical inspections and any necessary maintenance before being returned to operation.
The immediate impact of the development has been operational, as the airline disclosed that the grounding of the aircraft has triggered disruptions across its network, with some scheduled flights delayed, rescheduled, or cancelled.
“Consequently, some flights across our network may not operate as scheduled; however, safety remains our highest priority,” Uloka stated, while apologising to passengers for the inconvenience caused.
The airline further revealed that this marks the fifth bird strike involving its fleet in just over three months, underscoring a recurring operational challenge that has implications for fleet availability, scheduling efficiency, and overall service delivery.
While reiterating that all previous incidents were managed in strict compliance with aviation safety regulations and standard operating procedures, UNA acknowledged the broader implications of repeated bird strikes on airline operations.
Industry observers note that although bird strikes are a known risk in global aviation, frequent occurrences within a short timeframe can significantly disrupt airline schedules and increase maintenance demands, especially for carriers operating relatively lean fleets.
Despite these challenges, United Nigeria Airlines maintained that it would not compromise on safety, stressing that the precautionary grounding of affected aircraft is a necessary measure to ensure continued airworthiness and passenger protection.
“We appreciate the understanding of our valued passengers and reaffirm our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational reliability,” Uloka added.
The airline also assured customers that it is taking proactive steps to optimise operations and minimise further disruptions, even as it continues to navigate the operational impact of recurring bird strike incidents.
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