NASA has confirmed that crew members are secure after considered one of its three WB-57 Canberra high-altitude analysis plane made an emergency gear-up touchdown in Texas.
N927NA, the newest addition to NASA’s fleet of high-altitude analysis plane that hint their lineage again to the English Electrical Canberra, was seen in video footage making a gear-up touchdown at its house station of Ellington Area Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas. Ellington Area, near Johnson Area Centre, is a significant hub for NASA’s array of fastened wing analysis and coaching plane.
Spokesperson Bethany Stevens confirmed by way of social media at round 1830 UTC that, though the response to the incident was ongoing, all crew aboard the plane are secure. An investigation into the incident’s particular trigger will likely be launched, with official communications referring to it as a mechanical concern.
NASA WB-57 concerned in touchdown incident at Ellington Airport in #houston @KHOU pic.twitter.com/HOvr2YuHsh
— Houston Air Watch 🚁🛰️ (@houstonairw) January 27, 2026
Gear up landings, because of the direct contact between the fuselage and the runway, virtually at all times end in a considerable amount of flame, sparks, and smoke, although it needs to be famous that many plane have been by way of such ordeals after which been repaired. This plane’s age could current some points, although the Canberra household is well-known for its longevity and robustness.
Having first flown in 1949, the final Royal Air Power Canberra was not retired from energetic, frontline service till 2006. It was one of many handful of British designs adopted into the Chilly Battle U.S. Air Power, produced below licence by Martin because the B-57 and serving till 1983.
The plane is presently NASA’s solely energetic WB-57 – its two sister plane are grounded whereas awaiting completion of routine main inspections. In line with NASA’s web site on the time of writing, N926NA is anticipated to finish its inspection in February 2026, whereas N928NA’s inspection is on indefinite maintain. Assuming that N927NA will likely be deemed repairable and in a position to return to service, it’s nonetheless prone to be out of service for a substantial time, so NASA could reevaluate N928NA’s standing and get the inspection accomplished to make sure plane availability.
As we speak, a mechanical concern with considered one of NASA’s WB-57s resulted in a gear-up touchdown at Ellington Area. Response to the incident is ongoing, and all crew are secure at the moment. As with all incident, an intensive investigation will likely be carried out by NASA into the trigger. NASA will…
— Bethany Stevens (@NASASpox) January 27, 2026
In a position to function comfortably at altitudes above 60,000 toes, the WB-57 has supplied worth to NASA – and to the U.S. navy – by way of its payload capability of as much as 8,800 lbs. That is far in extra of the potential supplied by the U-2, additionally operated by NASA because the ER-2, although the ‘Dragon Woman’ is nearly sure to supply a (labeled) altitude benefit.
Primarily based on obtainable flight monitoring knowledge, it seems that N927NA was finishing up a coaching sortie on the time of the incident.
NASA’s WB-57 N927NA took off round 1619Z, and made a lot of contact and go landings, however the final one turned a full cease because the gear wasn’t deployed. pic.twitter.com/4i8sayTcIV
— Scott Manley (@DJSnM) January 27, 2026
In recent times, the WB-57’s most excessive profile function has been as a digicam platform for recording detailed footage of rocket launches and capsule restoration for technical evaluation. This consists of footage from take a look at launches of the brand new SpaceX Starship heavy-lift launch car.
The WB-57 concerned in todays incident shot this footage a few months in the past: pic.twitter.com/qY7UxY9MFG
— Scott Manley (@DJSnM) January 27, 2026
The platform’s altitude and payload functionality mixture was put to make use of by the U.S. navy throughout the battle in Afghanistan when ahead deployed plane had been fitted out as testbeds for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) function, now fulfilled by the E-11A.
