NASA Aircraft Executes Dramatic Emergency Landing in Houston
A high-altitude NASA research aircraft was forced to make a dramatic emergency landing at a Texas airport on Tuesday, skidding along the runway on its belly and sending a shower of sparks into the air.
Incident Details and Official Statements
The incident involved a NASA WB-57 aircraft, which experienced a mechanical issue resulting in a "gear-up landing" at Ellington Field Airport in Houston late on Tuesday morning. According to NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens, the mechanical problem led to the unconventional landing procedure. "Response to the incident is ongoing, and all crew are safe at this time," Stevens stated via social media. "As with any incident, a thorough investigation will be conducted by NASA into the cause."
Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, provided further details, confirming the event occurred around 11:30 a.m. local time on Runway 17R-35L. "First responders with a military subcontractor are responding to the incident," Szczesniak said. "The runway is closed until the aircraft can be removed." Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the two pilots who were on board the aircraft.
Visual Evidence and Aircraft Specifications
Footage captured by local news channel KHOU 11 vividly documented the emergency landing. The video shows the aircraft skidding along the tarmac on its fuselage, creating a long trail of bright sparks, before eventually coming to a stop. Additional footage depicts one of the pilots being assisted out of the cockpit by emergency response crews.
The WB-57 is a specialised long-range research aircraft operated by NASA's Johnson Space Center. According to the space agency, this type of plane is capable of:
- Flying at altitudes exceeding 60,000 feet
- Operating for extended periods across a wide range of altitudes
- Carrying payloads of up to 8,800 pounds for scientific missions
Ellington Airport, where the incident occurred, serves as a base for three of these WB-57 aircraft and is utilised primarily for military, NASA, and general aviation operations. The exact cause of the landing gear failure remains under investigation by NASA authorities.
