A NASA research plane was forced to make an emergency landing without its landing gear at Ellington Airport in Texas on Tuesday, with video showing flames and smoke trailing the aircraft as it slid along the runway on its belly.
The crew of the WB-57 aircraft, a high-altitude research plane capable of flying above 63,000 feet for up to six and a half hours, are all safe, NASA confirmed in a post on X. The agency stated that a mechanical issue caused the incident and that an investigation will be launched.
Video footage posted on social media captured the plane descending slowly before touching down with a jolt. Flames and white smoke erupted from beneath the aircraft as it skidded down the runway, with the wings bouncing. The plane eventually came to a stop, and local news footage showed emergency responders surrounding the aircraft, with the cockpit hatch open and fire trucks nearby.
The NASA WB-57 has been in service since the 1970s and continues to be used for scientific research missions, according to the agency's website.
