United Nigeria Airlines has withdrawn one of its Embraer 190 aircraft from service following a bird strike at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, resulting in disruptions to some scheduled flights.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, during the arrival of Flight UN0523 at the Lagos airport. The airline said evidence of a bird strike on the aircraft’s right engine was identified at 21:40 UTC during a routine post-flight technical inspection.
Following the discovery, the aircraft was immediately removed from active service in line with the airline’s safety protocols to allow its maintenance and engineering teams to conduct a detailed inspection and carry out any necessary maintenance.
United Nigeria Airlines said the temporary withdrawal of the aircraft would affect its flight schedule, with some services expected to experience delays or require rescheduling.
In a statement issued by the airline, management apologised to affected passengers and assured them that their safety remained its highest priority.
“In line with our safety protocols, the aircraft has been withdrawn from service as it undergoes further inspection and maintenance. Our schedule will be impacted, leading to disruption of some scheduled flights,” the airline said.
The carrier added that affected passengers were being provided with full support and advised travellers requiring further information or assistance with rebooking to contact its customer service team.
