An aircraft belonging to NASA made an emergency landing at Ellington Field Airport in Houston, Texas. The WB-57 research plane had a mechanical issue that led to a “gear-up landing,” according to NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported.
Bethany Stevens confirmed on social media that all crew members were safe and that an investigation would be conducted by NASA to determine the cause of the incident. Footage from local channel KHOU 11 captured the aircraft skidding on the runway, emitting sparks before eventually stopping. Emergency crews assisted one of the pilots in exiting the cockpit. There were reportedly two pilots on board.
Jim Szczesniak, the Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, disclosed that the incident occurred when the aircraft landed on Runway 17R-35L at Ellington Airport. First responders were deployed to the scene, and the runway was closed pending the removal of the aircraft.
The reason behind the landing gear failure remains unknown. The WB-57 aircraft is a long-range vehicle operated by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, capable of flying for extended periods at altitudes exceeding 60,000 feet and carrying up to 8,800 lbs of payload. Ellington Airport, where three WB-57 aircraft are based, serves military, NASA, and general aviation purposes.