A NASA WB-57 research aircraft made a dramatic belly landing in Houston after a mechanical issue, with all crew members reported safe.
A high-altitude NASA research aircraft made an emergency belly landing at Ellington Field in Houston on Tuesday morning after a mechanical issue prevented its landing gear from deploying. All crew members aboard the aircraft were unharmed, and federal and NASA investigations into the incident are now underway.
The aircraft, a WB-57 operated by NASA, touched down without its landing gear extended and slid along the runway on its fuselage. Video footage aired by KHOU 11 showed sparks, smoke, and flames trailing the aircraft as it slowed through friction, while the pilot maintained control during the landing. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time at Ellington Airport.NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens confirmed that a mechanical issue caused the gear-up landing and said all crew members were safe. “As with any incident, a thorough investigation will be conducted by NASA into the cause,” Stevens said in a statement posted on X, adding that the agency would provide transparent updates as more information becomes available.According to Houston Airport’s Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak, first responders from a military subcontractor were immediately dispatched to the runway, which was closed while crews worked to secure and remove the aircraft, as reported by Houston Public Media.Today, a mechanical issue with one of NASA’s WB-57s resulted in a gear-up landing at Ellington Field. Response to the incident is ongoing, and all crew are safe at this time. As with any incident, a thorough investigation will be conducted by NASA into the cause. NASA will…— Bethany Stevens January 27, 2026Emergency response and investigation underwayThe Federal Aviation Administration said a Martin WB-57 landed with its gear up at Ellington Airport around 11:25 a.m. local time with two people on board. The agency confirmed it will conduct its own investigation into the incident, according to a statement provided to The War Zone.NASA officials did not immediately comment on the specific mission the aircraft was conducting prior to the landing. The Johnson Space Center, which operates the WB-57 fleet and is located in Houston, deferred questions to Stevens’ statement, Houston Public Media reported.According to The War Zone, additional footage also shows the pilot exiting the aircraft with assistance from first responders after the aircraft came to a stop. No injuries were reported, and no damage beyond the aircraft itself was publicly detailed in initial statements.It remains unclear whether the damaged WB-57 is repairable and how long it may be out of service. NASA has not yet indicated whether the incident will affect upcoming observation missions, including planned support flights related to the Artemis II lunar mission, according to Ars Technica.A long-serving aircraft with modern science rolesThe WB-57 traces its origins to the B-57 aircraft line developed in the mid-20th century. The original platform was developed by English Electric, and the United States Air Force later adopted it to replace its aging Douglas B-26 Invader fleet. The aircraft saw operational use in Vietnam and other military campaigns before being adapted for high-altitude reconnaissance roles.The WB-57 variant features longer wings and can fly above 60,000 feet, making it particularly useful for atmospheric research. NASA has operated WB-57 aircraft for scientific missions since 1972, employing them for tasks ranging from hurricane overflights to atmospheric sampling and rocket plume analysis, Ars Technica reported.WB-57F 63-13503 assigned to 6091st Reconnaissance Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan. – Wikimedia CommonsToday, NASA operates three WB-57 aircraft based at Ellington Airport. The fleet has been used in recent years to capture aerial imagery of SpaceX’s Starship launches and was expected to support observations related to the Artemis II mission. One of the three aircraft was recovered from storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona and restored in 2013, allowing NASA to operate all three simultaneously by 2015.While investigations are now in progress, officials have not yet determined the long-term impact of the belly landing on the availability of one of NASA’s most specialized and heavily tasked research aircraft.
Aerospace Engineering Aircraft Malfunction Airport Aviation Emergency Landing FAA Flight Safety Gear-Up Landing High-Altitude Aircraft Houston Johnson Space Center NASA NASA Plane Research Aircraft Runway Science Missions Space Research US Aviation WB-57
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