Bird strike grounds United Nigeria flights, passengers protest

Spokesperson of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, addreses protesting stranded passengers at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on December 11. Credit: Achimugu | X

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Passengers across several United Nigeria Airlines routes outbound Abuja were on Thursday left stranded and visibly angry following multiple flight cancellations triggered by a bird strike on one of the airline’s aircraft.

In a video sighted by our correspondents, a crowd of passengers was seen protesting at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, accusing the airline of neglect and poor communication.

Another video showed the spokesperson of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, addressing the agitated passengers in an effort to restore calm.

A bird strike is an aviation incident that occurs when an aircraft collides with a bird or, occasionally, other wildlife during takeoff or landing.

While many such incidents cause minimal damage, they can also result in significant structural harm, engine failure, and, in rare cases, catastrophic accidents. Airlines often delay or cancel operations pending safety inspections after such events.

Speaking through a post, Achimugu explained that the NCAA intervened to prevent further escalation at the terminal. “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 said.

He confirmed that the airline’s aircraft had suffered a bird strike, which necessitated the cancellation. However, the delay in communication from the airline further fueled tensions among passengers.

He added, “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. For the lack of timely and proper communication, the airline has agreed to give passengers 15 per cent compensation on their next flight while rescheduling their Owerri-bound travel to 10 a.m. tomorrow.

“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.”

Achimugu further noted that the NCAA has repeatedly advised airlines to improve communication with passengers, especially during the disruption-prone month of December.

He assured that the Authority would monitor UNA’s compliance until all affected travellers reach their destinations. Meanwhile, United Nigeria Airlines, in a statement, confirmed the disruption.

“Due to a bird strike on one of our operating aircraft, some flights across our network will not operate as scheduled. In strict adherence to our safety standards, the affected aircraft has been withdrawn from service for comprehensive inspection.”

The airline apologized for the inconvenience and appealed for passengers’ understanding, assuring that its team was working to minimize disruptions and assist with rebooking and timely updates.

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