Passengers protest after United Nigeria Airlines cancels flights over bird strike

Passengers scheduled to travel on various United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) routes from Abuja were on Thursday stranded and visibly frustrated after a bird strike on one of the airline’s aircraft led to multiple flight cancellations.

Dozens of passengers were seen protesting at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Many accused the airline of negligence and poor communication over the sudden disruption.

Another clip captured the spokesperson of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, addressing the agitated crowd in an attempt to calm rising tensions.

A bird strike occurs when an aircraft collides with a bird or other wildlife, typically during takeoff or landing. While some incidents result in minimal damage, others can cause major structural issues, engine failure, or, in rare situations, catastrophic accidents. Airlines often ground affected aircraft for safety checks, leading to delays or cancellations.

Reacting via his verified X account, Achimugu said the NCAA intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.

“To avert further disaster at the domestic wing of the Abuja airport, my team and I rushed to the terminal where I addressed over one hundred passengers scheduled to fly Abuja–Owerri via United Nigeria Airline,” he wrote.

He confirmed the airline’s aircraft had suffered a bird strike, but noted that the delay in communication contributed significantly to passengers’ anger.

“Passengers became irate, and some turned violent. One of them destroyed laptops belonging to the airline, assaulted their staff, and injured a FAAN AVSEC personnel,” he revealed.

Achimugu added that UNA had agreed to offer affected passengers a 15 per cent discount on their next flight, while the cancelled Owerri-bound service was rescheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday.

“We also instructed the airline to send an email to passengers by 4 p.m. today. Had the airline addressed customers in a transparent and timely manner, the chaos would have been avoided,” he said.

The NCAA spokesperson also noted that the agency has repeatedly urged airlines to prioritise proactive communication, particularly during December, a month known for heightened travel disruptions. He assured that the Authority would monitor UNA’s compliance until all passengers reach their destinations.

Meanwhile, United Nigeria Airlines confirmed the disruptions in a statement issued by its Corporate Communications Unit. The airline attributed the cancellations to a bird strike on one of its operating aircraft, which has since been grounded for mandatory technical inspections.

“Due to a bird strike on one of our operating aircraft, some flights across our network will not operate as scheduled,” the statement read.

It added that the aircraft was withdrawn from service “in strict adherence to our safety standards” to undergo comprehensive inspection before returning to operation.

Reassuring its customers, UNA stated that it remains committed to upholding the highest safety standards and appealed for passengers’ patience.

“We sincerely apologise for the inconveniences this unforeseen development may cause to your travel plans and kindly appeal for the understanding and patience of our valued passengers,” the airline said, adding that its team is working to minimise disruptions and assist affected travellers with timely updates and rebooking support.