Archive · 28 Jan 2026
NASA Plane Lands Without Gear in Houston
A NASA plane had a scary landing in Houston.
The plane's wheels didn't come down, so it had to land on its belly.
This made sparks and flames as it slid on the runway.
The plane stopped safely, and no one was hurt.
NASA and the airport are looking into what happened.
The plane is used for research, and this was a rare and dramatic event.
Videos of the incident were shared widely on social media, showing the plane sliding with bursts of flame and smoke.
A NASA WB-57 research aircraft made a belly landing at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas.
The incident occurred around 11:30 AM on late Tuesday morning due to a mechanical issue.
The aircraft's landing gear failed to deploy, causing a gear-up landing with flames and sparks.
Both crew members were unharmed, and the aircraft stopped safely on the runway.
NASA is investigating the cause of the landing gear failure, and videos of the incident were widely shared on social media.
- Who
- NASA WB-57 research aircraft and its crew members
- What
- Belly landing due to landing gear failure
- When
- 11:30 AM, late Tuesday morning
- Where
- Ellington Field, Houston, Texas
- Why
- Mechanical issue prevented landing gear deployment
NASA's Response
Public Reaction
Investigation
NASA's Response
NASA is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the landing gear failure.
Public Reaction
Public and media are closely following the investigation, with widespread sharing of the dramatic footage on social media.
- Aircraft Type
- NASA WB-57 research aircraft
- Location
- Ellington Field, Houston, Texas
- Time of Incident
- 11:30 AM, late Tuesday morning
- Runway
- Runway 17R–35L
- Incident Type
- Belly landing due to landing gear failure
- Crew Status
- Both crew members unharmed
- Aircraft Capability
- High-altitude research plane capable of flying for around six and a half hours at altitudes exceeding 63,000 feet (19,200 metres)
Sources
WATCH: NASA Plane Sends Sparks Across Runway in Fiery Belly Landing at Ellington Field in Houston
NASA Research Plane Makes Belly Landing At Houston Airport, Sparks Brief Fire | Watch
Watch | Nasa Aircraft skids in flames during emergency landing in Texas
