By Chinelo Obogo
United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) suffered aircraft incidents within hours of each other on Sunday, March 29, 2026, which led to flight disruptions across its network.
The first incident occurred at Murtala Muhammed International Airport domestic terminal, MM2, Lagos, when a United Nigeria Airlines Embraer 190, which arrived from Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu on Flight UN0503, scheduled for 8:40 a.m, was parked on the ramp between aircraft belonging to two sister airlines, as ground crews made preparations to board passengers for the next scheduled departure, Flight UN0500 at noon.
The airline said in a statement that what happened next was entirely outside its control.
The statement noted that a nearby aircraft, having completed its boarding process and began taxiing.
While that was being done, another aircraft was executing a pushback manoeuvre onto the taxi line. While these movements happened, the airline said the taxiing aircraft manoeuvred in a way that generated a powerful jet blast across the ramp. The force of the jet blast, the airline said, displaced a baggage trolley belonging to a ground handling company.
The trolley, now an unguided projectile of metal and momentum, rolled into the parked United Nigeria Airlines Embraer 190, striking its external structure and causing damage to the antenna and the forward fuselage area near the nose landing gear.
No passengers were on board at the time of the impact and no injuries were reported. The airline said it immediately withdrew the aircraft from service for a full and comprehensive inspection .
The statement added: “In adherence to our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the affected aircraft has been withdrawn from service for comprehensive inspection before returning to operations.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.”
Barely hours later, the airline faced a second incident when one of its Airbus A320 aircraft suffered a bird strike on one of its engines while operating Flight UN0509 from Asaba International Airport to Lagos, also scheduled for noon on the same day.
United Nigeria Airlines said the affected Airbus A320 was immediately withdrawn from service upon arrival, which caused disruptions across its networks.
The airline has offered an apology to passengers and appealed for their understanding and patience.
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