United Nigeria Airlines says it has withdrawn one of its aircraft from operations after it suffered a bird strike during take-off.
In a statement on Friday, the airline said the incident occurred during the take-off of flight UN0561 from Benin City to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday.
United Nigeria said the bird strike damaged the nose landing gear door linkage of the Embraer 190 aircraft.
“This latest occurrence increases the number of aircraft grounded due to bird strikes to three (3) in less than 48-hours, marking the seventh such incident in 2026—an extremely concerning and unacceptable pattern given its impact on safety and operational reliability,” the statement reads. “Consistent with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations, as with previous incidents, to allow for detailed technical inspections and all necessary maintenance before returning to service.
“While our operating aircraft have experienced multiple bird strike incidents, we report only those that have resulted in aircraft being grounded due to damage parts).”
The airline called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen wildlife hazard management measures at airports to reduce the risk of such occurrences.
United Nigeria apologised to passengers for disruptions to travel plans, adding that efforts are underway to minimise the impact. “We kindly ask for your understanding, as safety remains our highest priority. Our team is working diligently to minimize disruptions and provide support to all affected travelers,” the airline said.
The latest incident follows two similar occurrences earlier in the week.