United Nigeria Airlines has grounded two Airbus A320 aircraft for detailed safety checks after suffering a fourth bird strike in a matter of days, intensifying concern over wildlife hazards around key Nigerian airports.

The latest incident involved Flight UN0519, which was departing Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja for Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Shortly after take-off, the aircraft reportedly struck birds, with one engine affected. The crew returned the aircraft to the ground and the jet was immediately withdrawn from service for inspection.

The airline said the decision was taken in line with its “strict and uncompromising safety standards,” stressing that no risks would be taken with passenger safety. With the withdrawal of this aircraft and another A320 affected by an earlier strike, United Nigeria confirmed that at least two jets are now undergoing comprehensive technical evaluations.

The carrier acknowledged that the loss of two aircraft from its active fleet would disrupt operations across its network, with some flights delayed, rescheduled, or cancelled. It appealed for understanding from passengers, describing the situation as “another bird strike too many” and apologising for the impact on travel plans.

The Abuja incident came less than 24 hours after a separate bird strike on Flight UN0523 operating from Asaba to Lagos. In that case, the aircraft also encountered birds during a critical phase of flight, forcing additional checks and contributing to the mounting operational strain on the airline.

Earlier in the same week, United Nigeria reported a bird strike involving Flight UN0514/614 in Port Harcourt after arrival from Lagos. Although no visible damage was found, engineers carried out precautionary inspections before clearing the aircraft to return to service, underscoring the airline’s heightened vigilance.

United Nigeria reiterated that safety “will never be compromised” and remains the foundation of its operations. The airline said its technical and operations teams are working to stabilise the schedule, rebook affected passengers, and ensure that only fully certified aircraft are deployed.

Aviation analysts note that the cluster of incidents highlights persistent bird hazard challenges around Nigerian airports and may prompt renewed scrutiny of wildlife management, runway inspections, and coordination between airlines and airport authorities to reduce the risk of future strikes.