United Nigeria Airlines announced on Sunday, February 15, 2026, that it experienced a second bird strike in less than 24 hours. This event marked the fourth bird strike on its aircraft since January 2026. The latest incident occurred during the takeoff of Flight UN0519 from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The flight was scheduled to depart at 12:00 p.m.
The bird strike impacted one engine of an Airbus A320 aircraft. United Nigeria Airlines immediately withdrew the affected plane from service. Engineers conducted comprehensive technical inspections in line with the airline’s strict safety standards and regulatory requirements. The carrier emphasized that it would return the aircraft to operations only after full clearance.
This withdrawal followed a similar incident on Saturday, February 14, 2026. In that case, a bird strike hit another Airbus A320 during the takeoff of Flight UN0523 from Asaba International Airport to Lagos. The airline also grounded that aircraft for inspections. As a result, two Airbus A320 aircraft were out of service within 24 hours.
The grounding of the two aircraft caused disruptions across United Nigeria Airlines’ network. Some flights experienced delays, while others required rescheduling or possible cancellations. The airline apologized for the inconveniences and asked passengers for patience. It reiterated its commitment to passenger safety above all.
Earlier reports noted additional bird strikes in 2026. For instance, one occurred on Thursday when an Airbus A320 faced a strike during landing at Port Harcourt International Airport after departing from Lagos. These repeated events highlighted ongoing challenges for the carrier at various Nigerian airports. United Nigeria Airlines handled each case according to aviation safety protocols.
