Local Airlines Groan As N20bn Annual Bird Strike Losses Threaten Viability

Nigeria’s fragile aviation industry is facing a fresh and costly threat as local airlines lose an estimated N20 billion annually to rising bird strike incidents, compounding an already severe crisis triggered by skyrocketing aviation fuel prices, high operating costs and shrinking aircraft fleets.

Findings by LEADERSHIP revealed that bird strikes, collisions between birds and aircraft during takeoff, landing or flight, have become alarmingly frequent across Nigerian airports, forcing airlines to spend millions of dollars on engine replacements, emergency repairs and operational disruptions.

Industry data showed that the loss to air operators is estimated at over N20 billion annually, and between January and May 2026 alone, Nigerian carriers recorded more than 8 major bird-strike incidents, with airlines warning that the trend is becoming one of the most dangerous and expensive threats to air transportation in the country.

Losses from each bird strike fall into categories. Engine or structural damage is the most devastating of all because of the cost of repair or replacement.

Operators say the impact goes beyond financial losses, warning that persistent bird strikes could damage Nigeria’s international aviation safety reputation, increase insurance premiums, discourage foreign investment and worsen flight disruptions nationwide.

The crisis comes despite assurances by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that measures were being introduced to curb wildlife hazards around airports.

In 2024, FAAN announced plans to deploy wildlife-control equipment acquired from Canada to address increasing bird activity around airport runways.

The managing director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, had said the equipment would significantly reduce bird strike incidents and improve Nigeria’s safety rating with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

However, two years later, airlines say the situation has worsened rather than improved.

Investigations revealed that Air Peace recorded no fewer than 10 bird-strike incidents between January and April this year, while United Nigeria Airlines suffered six incidents within the first five months of 2026.

Chairman of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, disclosed that the airline had suffered 115 bird-strike incidents over the last five years, with over 30 occurring in a single year.

According to him, two of the incidents came close to tragedy.

One occurred at the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri, Imo State, while another happened at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State.

In the Port Harcourt incident, a large bird reportedly struck the aircraft’s landing gear during landing, causing significant damage to the aircraft, though the pilot landed safely without casualties.

The Owerri incident was even more frightening. A bird reportedly collided with the aircraft mid-flight, shattering the cockpit windshield and prompting fears of cabin depressurisation, before the aircraft landed safely.

United Nigeria Airlines also confirmed one of its recent bird strike incidents involving an Airbus A320-200 aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The airline’s spokesperson, Chibuike Uloka, said the bird strike affected the aircraft’s nose section immediately after landing, forcing the aircraft out of service for mandatory safety inspections.

The development further strained the airline’s already stretched fleet and disrupted scheduled operations.

Aviation experts told LEADERSHIP that airlines now spend an average of N720 million to replace aircraft engines damaged by severe bird strikes, depending on the aircraft type and the level of damage.

They noted that the figure excludes shipping, maintenance and operational downtime costs.

A senior airline official who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to comment publicly described the financial implications as devastating.

According to him, repairing a damaged aircraft engine could cost anywhere between $100,000, while a complete engine replacement could cost up to $3.5 million.

“As for costs, an engine repair could range from $20,000 at the absolute minimum to about $3.5 million if the engine is completely destroyed,” the source said.

“The airlines are losing millions of dollars. We once spent about $1.5 million to replace an engine after a bird strike. Once a bird enters the engine, the first thing you notice is smoke coming out like roasted chicken. At that point, the pilot has to descend immediately because nobody can predict the extent of the damage,” he added.

The source further stated that, with many airlines already battling high Jet A-1 fuel prices, foreign exchange volatility, multiple taxation, and aircraft shortages, the growing threat of bird strikes has become another heavy burden, putting the survival of local operators at risk.

“Unless urgent intervention comes from aviation authorities and the federal government, the crisis may deepen, forcing airlines to scale down operations, increase ticket fares or ground more aircraft in the months ahead,” he warned.

Beyond the immediate repair costs, stakeholders warned that the growing frequency of bird strikes could have wider consequences for Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Industry analyst and aviation stakeholder, Olumide Ohunayo, warned that Nigeria risked losing investor confidence if urgent measures are not taken to address the menace.

Ohunayo, who is the General Secretary, Aviation Round Table Initiative (ARTI), also warned that repeated incidents could increase aircraft leasing costs, raise insurance premiums and weaken Nigeria’s standing within the global aviation community.

“Not only will it affect Nigeria’s ratings, but it will also discourage investors from coming into the sector,” Ohunayo said.

He added, “It will increase leasing costs and insurance premiums because aviation operates like a global village. If aircraft cannot operate smoothly and airlines continue recording repeated incidents, investors will naturally become cautious.”

He stressed that Nigeria must adopt scientific and technology-driven approaches to managing wildlife around airports.

According to him, authorities must study bird migration patterns, identify dangerous species around airports and deploy modern wildlife control systems capable of preventing birds from approaching runways.

“We need proper data, bird routes, species, seasons and migration patterns. Without these, we cannot find a lasting solution,” he said.