United Nigeria Airlines has experienced another incident involving a bird strike, occurring less than a day after one prior, exacerbating the airline's ongoing operational difficulties and causing further interruptions to its flight schedule.
This latest event transpired on Sunday as flight UN0519 was preparing for take-off from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, en route to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The aircraft was slated to leave at 12:00 p.m. during this event.
As per the airline's statement, the bird strike caused damage to one of the aircraft’s engines, leading to its withdrawal from active service for detailed technical inspections to comply with safety standards.
With this incident, the total number of bird strikes involving United Nigeria Airlines aircraft since January now stands at four.
Past reports have highlighted similar bird strike occurrences faced by the airline. Notably, on Thursday, an Airbus A320 was struck while landing at Port Harcourt International Airport during flight UN0514/614 and on Saturday, another bird strike afflicted an Airbus A320 on flight UN0523 as it departed from Asaba headed to Lagos, contributing to operational interruptions.
Bird strikes continue to pose a significant threat to safety and operational efficiency in Nigeria’s aviation industry, particularly during critical phases like take-off and landing. Experts point out that seasonal weather patterns, poor waste management around airports, and the migration of birds increase the risk of such incidents unless effective wildlife control measures are put in place.
With two Airbus aircraft sidelined within just 24 hours due to these incidents, the airline's flight operations are experiencing notable delays and potential rescheduling across its networks.
Despite these challenges, the airline has assured passengers that these cautionary measures are critical for ensuring their safety and confirmed that the affected aircraft will return to service only after thorough inspections and clear certifications.
In a communication to passengers, the airline expressed regret for any inconveniences caused and reiterated its commitment to minimizing operational disruptions while assisting affected travelers.
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