NASA research plane lands on belly, sending sparks flying, after 'mechanical issue'

A NASA aircraft had to make a "gear-up landing" in Houston on Tuesday due to a mechanical problem, NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens noted in a post on X.

"Today, a mechanical issue with one of NASA’s 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," she said in the Tuesday afternoon plane slid across the runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration NASA Airborne Science Program website.

"The NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas is the home of the NASA WB-57 High Altitude Research Program," the site notes. "The WB-57 is a mid-wing, long-range aircraft capable of operation for extended periods of time from sea level to altitudes in excess of 63,000 feet."

"The aircraft have been flying research missions since the early 1970's, and continue to be an asset to the scientific community with professional, reliable, customer-oriented service designed to meet all scientific objectives," the website states.