Bird strike, jet blast disrupt United Nigeria Airlines flight operations

United Nigeria Airlines has confirmed disruptions to its flight operations following a bird strike involving one of its Airbus A320 aircraft during a scheduled service.

The incident occurred on Flight UN0509 from Asaba International Airport to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Sunday. According to the airline, the aircraft suffered a bird strike on one of its engines while in operation.

In line with aviation safety procedures, the airline said the affected aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service for a comprehensive inspection before being cleared to return to operations. The withdrawal of the aircraft subsequently led to delays and cancellations across parts of the airline’s network, as it adjusted its flight schedule to manage the disruption.

United Nigeria Airlines explained that safety remains its top priority, adding that all required technical checks would be completed before the aircraft is returned to service. The airline also noted that it is working to minimise inconvenience to passengers affected by the operational changes.

Bird strikes, which occur when birds collide with aircraft during takeoff or landing, are a known risk in aviation and often require detailed inspections of the engine and airframe, depending on the severity of the impact.

Jet blast incident damages the aircraft during ground operations

In a separate incident at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, the airline reported damage to another aircraft during routine ground handling.

The aircraft, an Embraer 190 operating Flight UN0503, had arrived from Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and was parked at an open bay while preparations were ongoing for subsequent operations.

According to the airline, the incident occurred when a nearby aircraft began taxiing, and another was executing a pushback manoeuvre at the same time. The resulting jet blast generated significant air pressure within the ramp area.

The force of the jet blast displaced a baggage trolley belonging to a ground handling company. The trolley reportedly moved into the United Nigeria Airlines aircraft, which was preparing for departure.

The impact caused damage to external parts of the aircraft, including the antenna and the forward fuselage area near the nose landing gear. The airline said the aircraft has also been withdrawn from service for a full technical inspection in accordance with aviation safety protocols.

United Nigeria Airlines described the incident as unfortunate and said it has launched internal assessments alongside aviation ground safety stakeholders to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

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