On Tuesday morning, January 27th, a research aircraft belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) encountered a mechanical failure when landing at Ellington Airport in Texas. The landing gear failed to deploy, causing the plane to perform a belly landing on the runway. Videos shared online show the aircraft skidding along the tarmac, leaving behind fiery streaks as its belly scraped against the ground.
Footage captured by ground staff from KHOU 11 television station shows the two crew members emerging from the cockpit with the assistance of rescue personnel. Houston Airport Aviation Manager Jim Szczesniak confirmed in a statement, “At around 11:30 AM this morning, a NASA aircraft experienced a malfunction during landing on Runway 17R-35L at Ellington Airport.”
“A military subcontractor’s emergency personnel are handling the situation. The runway has been closed until the aircraft is removed. For any further inquiries, please contact NASA,” the statement added.
NASA has confirmed the safety of all crew members. The aircraft involved was identified as NASA’s WB-57 high-altitude scientific research plane based at the nearby NASA Johnson Space Center near Ellington Airport. Further details regarding the mechanical failure have not been disclosed yet.
Bethany Stevens, a spokesperson for NASA, wrote on social media, “Today, a NASA WB-57 aircraft experienced a mechanical failure during landing at Ellington Airport, resulting in the landing gear failing to deploy. The incident is currently under investigation, and all crew members are safe. Like with any incident, NASA will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause. As we gather more information, NASA will provide timely and transparent updates to the public.”
The WB-57 is a mid-wing long-range scientific research aircraft capable of flying at altitudes exceeding 63,000 feet. The aircraft typically carries two crew members – a pilot and a sensor operator – to conduct scientific and atmospheric research missions.