A NASA WB-57F research aircraft made a belly landing at Ellington Airport in Houston after a mechanical failure prevented the landing gear from opening.
Footage released by a local television channel showed the plane sliding down the runway, spewing sparks and smoke, as emergency crews helped the pilot safely exit the plane. According to NASA, everyone on board was unharmed.
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The incident temporarily closed Runway 17R-35L while crews removed the aircraft. NASA has confirmed that it will launch a detailed investigation into the cause of the incident, while the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also announced its own investigation. Two people were on board at the time of the emergency landing.
WB-57F aircraft are rare and strategically important assets operated from the Johnson Space Center in Houston. These machines can fly up to about 19,000 meters and carry scientific sensors in modular compartments on the fuselage, nose section and under the wings. Although similar in appearance to the US Air Force’s U-2 aircraft, they perform different and complementary tasks, alongside the ER-2 aircraft also operated by NASA.
Originally developed for high-altitude reconnaissance missions during the Cold War, the WB-57F aircraft now play an important role in scientific research, military tests, and aerial surveillance of space launches. Due to the extremely limited number of these aircraft — only three currently in service — it is not yet clear what impact the incident will have on the future availability of the fleet.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @BNONews | This content is generated using artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team
BREAKING | Video shows a NASA plane making a belly landing at Ellington Airport. Here’s what we know right now.
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) January 27, 2026
