United Nigeria Airlines is under mounting criticism following another bird strike incident, its second in less than 24 hours, raising serious concerns about safety oversight and crisis management.
The airline disclosed that the latest occurrence involved Flight UN0519, an Airbus A320 departing Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, en route to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The bird strike affected one of the aircraft’s engines during take-off, forcing it out of service for technical inspections.
This marks the fourth bird strike since January 2026, with two Airbus aircraft grounded within a single day. The frequency of these incidents has unsettled passengers and industry stakeholders, who argue that the clustering of bird strikes suggests deeper systemic issues beyond coincidence.
While bird strikes are not uncommon in aviation, critics point to weak preventive coordination with airport authorities and inadequate risk management protocols. The repeated grounding of aircraft has also exposed the airline’s limited fleet redundancy, leaving passengers to endure cancellations, delays, and uncertainty.
Although the airline has apologised and reaffirmed its commitment to safety, observers warn that routine assurances are losing credibility. In a competitive aviation market already struggling with consumer trust, recurring disruptions of this magnitude risk damaging the airline’s reputation.
For many travellers, the latest incident is not simply “another bird strike too many,” but evidence of systemic operational vulnerabilities that demand urgent and transparent corrective action rather than repeated statements of regret.
By Kehinde Ibrahim, Lagos
