Jet blast, bird strike disrupt United Nigeria operations

2026-03-29 - 20:55

By Dickson Omobola United Nigeria Airlines’ operations appear to have taken a hit as two of the airline’s aircraft were affected in separate incidents, Sunday, disrupting scheduled services across its network. One of the incidents involved a jet blast at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, where an Embraer 190 aircraft sustained damage during ground operations shortly after arriving from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport. Also, the airline confirmed that a bird strike affected one of the engines of its Airbus A320 operating Flight UN0509 from Asaba International Airport to Lagos, forcing the cancellation of some flights. Meanwhile, the airline’s Public Relations Office, in a statement, said the first incident happened while preparations were ongoing to board passengers for another scheduled flight, a nearby aircraft, having completed its own boarding process, commenced taxiing. According to the statement, during the simultaneous ground movements, the taxiing aircraft manoeuvred in a manner that generated significant jet blast within the ramp area. The statement said: “The force of the jet blast displaced a baggage trolley belonging to a ground handling company, which subsequently made contact with the United Nigeria Airlines aircraft preparing for Flight UN0500, scheduled for 12:00 hours. The impact resulted in damage to external components, including the antenna and the forward fuselage area near the nose landing gear. “In adherence to our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the affected aircraft has been withdrawn from service for comprehensive inspection before returning to operations. United Nigeria Airlines remains committed to upholding the highest safety standards.” On the bird strike, another statement by the airline said: “United Nigeria Airlines wishes to inform its valued passengers and the general public that, due to a bird strike on one of the engines of its operating Airbus A320 aircraft during Flight UN0509 from Asaba International Airport to Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, MM2, scheduled for 12:00 hours on Sunday, 29th March, 2026, some flights across our network will not operate as scheduled.”