A NASA research plane landed safely on January 27 after a mechanical issue prevented its landing gear from deploying, according to the space agency. The WB-57 touched down at Ellington Airport, southeast of Houston, and slid across the runway on its belly, with yellow fire and white smoke bursting from beneath it. All crew members are safe, NASA said.
The WB-57 is a high-altitude research aircraft that has conducted scientific missions for NASA since the 1970s. The space agency said it will investigate the mechanical issue that caused the landing gear malfunction.
The landing
Video posted to social media documented the WB-57’s descent toward the runway on January 27. The aircraft touched down with a jolt, its wings bouncing as it made contact. Yellow fire and white smoke burst from beneath the fuselage as the plane slid across the tarmac, the flames intermittently bursting and fading in clouds of smoke before it came to a stop.
Local news footage from KHOU 11 showed the aircraft stationary on the runway, its cockpit hatch open, with fire trucks positioned nearby and emergency responders working around the plane’s nose section.
The aircraft
The WB-57 is a high-altitude research aircraft distinguished by its thin fuselage. According to NASA, the plane is equipped with two crew seats and is capable of flying for about 6 1/2 hours at altitudes exceeding 63,000 feet. The aircraft has conducted scientific research missions for NASA since the 1970s and continues to be used for investigations across the scientific community.
Investigation
NASA said the landing gear failure resulted from a mechanical issue that the agency will investigate. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board may also examine the incident.