Passengers travelling with United Nigeria Airlines from Abuja on Thursday were left stranded after the airline cancelled several flights following a bird strike on one of its aircraft.
Videos shared online showed angry passengers protesting at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Many accused the airline of poor communication and leaving them without clear information about their flights.
Another video showed the spokesperson of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, speaking to the crowd in an effort to restore order.
A bird strike happens when an aircraft hits a bird during takeoff or landing. While sometimes minor, such incidents can also damage engines or parts of the aircraft, forcing airlines to suspend operations for safety checks.
Achimugu confirmed the incident in a post on his verified X handle, saying, “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 the problem was not only the bird strike but the delay in communication from the airline. He explained, “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.”
To calm the situation, he said the airline agreed to give affected travellers a 15 percent discount on their next booking and moved the Abuja–Owerri flight to 10 a.m. on Friday. Achimugu added, “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 noted that the NCAA has often warned airlines to improve communication, especially during December, when flight disruptions are common. He said the authority would monitor the airline until all travellers reached their destinations.
In a statement issued later, United Nigeria Airlines confirmed that a bird strike on one of its aircraft caused the disruptions. The airline said, “Due to a bird strike on one of our operating aircraft, some flights across our network will not operate as scheduled.”
It explained that the aircraft had been grounded for mandatory inspection. “As a result, and in strict adherence to our safety standards, the affected aircraft has been withdrawn from service for comprehensive inspection before returning it to service,” the statement read.
The airline apologised to passengers and appealed for understanding, saying, “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.”
It also said its team was working to reduce the disruptions and support travellers with updates and rebooking assistance.
