NASA's Experimental Jet Lands Safely After Unexpected Return to Base Following Envelope Expansion Testing

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic demonstrator unexpectedly cut short its second test flight on March 20, 2026, after a return-to-base call. The research aircraft and pilot landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California. According to AeroTime, NASA had planned the second flight as part of envelope expansion testing for the experimental jet. In a post on X, NASA said more information would follow on the cause of the unexpected return. The X-59 first flew on October 28, 2025, and is part of NASA’s Quesst mission to show that supersonic aircraft can fly faster than sound while reducing sonic boom.