United Nigeria Airlines has recorded its fifth bird strike of 2026 after one of its aircraft was hit while operating a flight from Kano to Abuja.
The incident involved Flight UN0579 and occurred on Tuesday, April 14, as the CRJ-900 aircraft was landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
In a statement, the airline’s spokesperson, Chibuike Uloka, confirmed that the aircraft has been withdrawn from service for mandatory safety checks.
“In line with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations to undergo comprehensive technical inspections,” the statement said.
The airline added that the development could disrupt scheduled flights across its network as maintenance teams assess the extent of the damage.
The recurrence of bird strikes—now five since January—has raised fresh concerns among aviation stakeholders over airport safety and environmental management.
An ornithologist, Jalo Muhammad, explained that birds are often attracted to airport environments, particularly those located near wetlands or poorly managed vegetation.
“If an airport in an untouched area is not properly managed, the activities can attract most of those birds,” he said, noting that species such as kites and lapwings tend to remain around runways where food sources like rodents are available.
United Nigeria Airlines apologised for any inconvenience caused, assuring passengers that all incidents have been handled in line with aviation safety standards and reiterating that passenger safety remains its top priority.