NASA Research Jet Makes Emergency Gear-Up Landing in Texas
Clips circulated across social platforms depict fire erupting from beneath the WB-57 aircraft as it slid down the runway without its landing gear extended.
NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens verified the occurrence in an official statement issued soon after the aircraft touched down.
“Today, a mechanical issue with one of NASA’s WB-57s resulted in a gear-up landing at Ellington Field,” Stevens said in a post on X, emphasizing that all personnel on board were unharmed.
“As with any incident, a thorough investigation will be conducted by NASA into the cause,” she added.
The WB-57 is a high-altitude scientific aircraft operated by NASA for a range of research objectives, such as atmospheric analysis, Earth science monitoring, and assistance with spaceflight studies. The plane is a modified version of the military Martin B-57 Canberra and is designed to operate at exceptionally high elevations.
The Johnson Space Center maintains three of these aircraft, which have been conducting research flights since the early 1970s. On board the WB-57, the pilot and the sensor systems operator are seated in tandem.
The aircraft can travel roughly 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) and remain airborne for more than six hours. At this stage, the extent of damage to the fuselage from the rough landing remains unknown, as does the length of time the jet will be taken out of operation.
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