Hundreds of passengers were left stranded on Thursday after United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) grounded one of its aircraft following a bird strike at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, leading to widespread disruption and flight cancellations across its network.
Multiple videos seen by our correspondent showed agitated travellers staging protests at the domestic terminal, accusing the airline of poor communication and negligence after hours of waiting without clear updates.
One of the videos captured the spokesperson of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, addressing the visibly frustrated passengers in a bid to restore order.
A bird strike occurs when an aircraft collides with a bird, usually during takeoff or landing, and while often minor, such incidents can cause engine damage or structural faults, forcing airlines to delay or cancel flights pending mandatory safety checks.
Reacting on his verified X handle, Achimugu confirmed that the NCAA intervened to calm tensions after the situation escalated.
“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 wrote.
According to him, the carrier’s failure to promptly communicate the nature of the disruption worsened the chaos. He disclosed that the confrontation turned violent, with one passenger destroying airline equipment, assaulting staff, and injuring a FAAN AVSEC officer.
Achimugu said the airline agreed to offer 15 per cent compensation on passengers’ next flight and rescheduled the Abuja–Owerri service to 10 a.m. on Friday. The NCAA also instructed UNA to issue an official email update to all affected travellers by 4 p.m.
“We have repeatedly urged airlines to prioritise timely communication, especially during the highly disruption-prone December travel period,” he added. He also assured that the Authority would monitor United Nigeria Airlines until all stranded passengers were rebooked and transported.
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Meanwhile, United Nigeria Airlines confirmed the disruptions in a statement issued by its Corporate Communications Unit, attributing the cancellations to a bird strike on one of its operating aircraft.
The airline said the affected aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service for mandatory technical inspections in line with its safety procedures.
“In strict adherence to our safety standards, the aircraft has been grounded for comprehensive checks before it is returned to service,” the statement said.
UNA apologised to passengers for the inconvenience, appealing for patience as its operational teams worked to minimise the impact of the disruption and offer rebooking support.
“United Nigeria Airlines remains committed to upholding the highest safety standards,” the airline added.
