{"id":140251,"date":"2026-01-27T21:21:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T21:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/140251\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T21:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T21:21:08","slug":"nasa-wb-57f-canberra-jet-makes-fiery-belly-landing-in-houston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/140251\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA WB-57F Canberra Jet Makes Fiery Belly-Landing In Houston"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of NASA\u2019s high-flying WB-57F<\/a> research aircraft went skidding down the runway on its belly at Ellington Airport in Houston, Texas, earlier today.<\/p>\n

The incident occurred at around 11:30 AM local time, according to KHOU<\/a>, a local CBS affiliate in Houston. KHOU has shared video footage showing the two-seat WB-57F spraying sparks and smoke after making contact with the runway. Additional footage shows the pilot exiting the plane with the help of first responders on the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, a mechanical issue with one of NASA\u2019s WB-57s resulted in a gear-up landing at Ellington Field. Response to the incident is ongoing, and all crew are safe at this time,\u201d NASA\u2019s official account on X wrote in response to KHOU\u2018s report. \u201cAs with any incident, a thorough investigation will be conducted by NASA into the cause. NASA will transparently update the public as we gather more information.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, a mechanical issue with one of NASA\u2019s WB-57s resulted in a gear-up landing at Ellington Field. Response to the incident is ongoing, and all crew are safe at this time. As with any incident, a thorough investigation will be conducted by NASA into the cause. NASA will\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 NASA (@NASA) January 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

KHOU also reported that Ellington\u2019s runway 17R\u201335L was closed as efforts were made to move the stricken WB-57F.<\/p>\n

All three of NASA\u2019s WB-57Fs are based at the Johnson Space Center<\/a>, also located in Houston. The aircraft are well known for their high-altitude capabilities, and can fly as high as 63,000 feet depending on how they are configured. They can carry different sensors and other systems in modular payload bays under the fuselage, as well as in their noses and underwing pods. Though roughly similar in some respects, the WB-57F should not be confused with the U.S. Air Force\u2019s higher-flying U-2s<\/a>. NASA also operates a pair of ER-2 aircraft, which are modified U-2s<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The WB-57Fs, originally developed for the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War as high-flying intelligence-gathering platforms, are now used for various scientific research purposes<\/a>. The jets have also been used to support various U.S. military operational<\/a> and test and evaluation-type missions<\/a>. One of them was notably called upon to help in the response to weeks of still unexplained drone incursions over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in December 2023, which TWZ was first to report<\/a>. Many aerial videos of space launches that we see are taken by the WB-57Fs, as well.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A stock picture of a NASA WB-57F. NASA<\/p>\n

Overall, NASA\u2019s WB-57Fs are the definition of an extremely low-density, high-demand asset, and what long-term impacts today\u2019s belly landing may have on the future of the fleet remain be seen.<\/p>\n

Contact the author: joe@twz.com<\/p>\n