A NASA aircraft made an emergency landing at Ellington Field Airport in Houston, Texas, causing sparks to fly along the runway. The WB-57, a 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 injuries reported.
Stevens mentioned on social media that the response to the incident is ongoing, with all crew members safe. NASA will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the emergency landing. Videos shared by local channel KHOU 11 captured the aircraft skidding on its belly, leaving a trail of sparks before coming to a stop. Emergency crews assisted one of the pilots in exiting the cockpit. Two pilots were onboard during the incident.
Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, reported that the NASA aircraft encountered landing issues on Runway 17R-35L at Ellington Airport. First responders are handling the situation, and the runway is closed until the aircraft can be cleared.
The exact cause of the landing gear failure remains unknown. The WB-57, a long-range aircraft operated by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, has the capability to fly for extended periods at high altitudes and carry significant payloads. Three WB-57 aircraft are stationed at Ellington Airport, primarily serving military, NASA, and general aviation operations.
