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A NASA research aircraft was forced to make an emergency belly landing at a Texas airport on Tuesday after a mechanical malfunction prevented its landing gear from deploying. Dramatic video shared on social media showed the plane skidding through smoke and flames as it attempted to come to a stop.
The aircraft touched down at Ellington Airport southeast of Houston, sliding along the runway without its wheels and the US space agency confirmed that both crew members on board were safe.
In a post on X, the US space agency said the incident involved a “mechanical issue” that would be investigated. No injuries were reported.
The aircraft involved was a Nasa WB-57, a high-altitude research plane known for its distinctive long, thin fuselage. The twin-seat jet is capable of flying for around six and a half hours at altitudes exceeding 63,000 feet (19,200 metres) and has long been used for scientific and atmospheric research missions, news agency AP reported.
Video footage of the incident shows the plane making a slow and controlled descent before hitting the runway with a jolt. As it slid along the tarmac on its underside, its wings appeared to bounce while bursts of yellow flames and white smoke erupted from beneath the fuselage. The aircraft gradually lost speed as the flames flared and then disappeared into a cloud of smoke.
Local television station KHOU 11 later aired footage showing the aircraft at a complete stop on the runway, with the cockpit hatch open and emergency vehicles positioned around it. Fire crews and responders were seen working near the blackened nose of the plane as flashing lights illuminated the scene.
According to NASA, the WB-57 has been flying research missions since the 1970s and remains a key asset for the scientific community. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the landing gear failure.
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Published On:
Jan 28, 2026
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