High-Altitude Research Aircraft Involved in Incident at Ellington Field
A NASA high-altitude research aircraft, a WB-57, made a gear-up landing at Ellington Field in Houston on January 27, 2026, due to a mechanical issue. The two crew members onboard were uninjured, and the aircraft remained upright as emergency responders quickly surrounded it. The incident is under investigation, and NASA officials have stated that a thorough review will be conducted to determine the cause. The WB-57 is a critical asset for NASA’s scientific research missions, and the agency has noted that there is no direct modern replacement for the aircraft. This incident was first reported by AeroTime.