A NASA aircraft made an emergency landing at Ellington Field Airport in Houston, Texas, causing sparks to fly along the runway. The WB-57 high-altitude research plane experienced a mechanical issue, leading to a “gear-up landing,” as confirmed by NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
Stevens mentioned on social media that the response to the incident was ongoing, with all crew members safe. NASA will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the emergency landing.
Video footage from local channel KHOU 11 captured the aircraft skidding on its belly, leaving a trail of sparks before coming to a stop. Emergency crews assisted a pilot in exiting the cockpit. Two pilots were said to be aboard the aircraft.
Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, reported that the NASA aircraft encountered landing issues on Runway 17R-35L at Ellington Airport around 11:30 a.m. The runway was closed for removal of the aircraft by first responders.
The reason for the landing gear failure remains unknown. The WB-57 aircraft, operated by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is capable of long-range flights at high altitudes and carrying substantial payloads. Ellington Airport hosts three WB-57 aircraft primarily used for military, NASA, and general aviation activities.