NASA’s last remaining WB-57F high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft was forced to make a dramatic belly landing at Ellington Airport in Houston, Texas, on January 27, after suffering a landing-gear failure, U.S. media reported.
Video footage circulating on social media showed the distinctive twin-engine aircraft skidding along the runway with its landing gear retracted, sparks and smoke visible beneath its fuselage as it came to a halt. The two-person crew was able to safely exit the aircraft with assistance from emergency responders positioned along the airstrip. No injuries were reported.
NASA confirmed the incident in a brief statement posted on its official X account, describing it as a “gear-up landing” caused by a mechanical issue. “Response to the incident is ongoing, and all crew are safe at this time,” the agency said, adding that a full investigation would be conducted and updates shared publicly as more information becomes available.
The WB-57F involved in the incident is part of an exceptionally small and aging fleet. Only 21 of the aircraft were ever built, and NASA currently operates just three, all based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The loss or extended grounding of even one aircraft could significantly affect NASA’s high-altitude research capabilities.
It remains unclear whether the aircraft sustained damage severe enough to render it inoperable. If it is permanently grounded, NASA’s WB-57F fleet would shrink to just two airframes—an outcome likely to intensify scrutiny over the continued use of the more-than-60-year-old platform.
The WB-57F traces its lineage to the Cold War, when it was developed as the RB-57F Canberra, a specialized strategic reconnaissance aircraft derived from the Martin B-57 bomber, itself a U.S.-built version of the British English Electric Canberra.
The first RB-57F prototype flew in June 1963, entering service with the U.S. Air Force in 1964. Designed for extreme high-altitude operations, the aircraft was primarily tasked with atmospheric sampling and radiation detection, playing a key role in monitoring nuclear weapons tests conducted by rival powers.
In 1968, the aircraft was redesignated WB-57F, officially reflecting a weather-reconnaissance mission. However, this designation often served as cover for its continued use in sensitive intelligence operations, including the collection of radioactive particles and missile telemetry data.
By the early 1970s, most RB-57F aircraft had been retired, with three already lost in accidents or combat-related incidents. Four remaining airframes were transferred to NASA, which has continued to operate them for scientific research missions ever since.
During its military service, the RB-57F was frequently compared to the Lockheed U-2 spy plane, though the two aircraft were designed for different operational philosophies. While the single-engine U-2 prioritized extreme altitude and stealth, the twin-engine RB-57F offered a significantly larger payload capacity, allowing it to carry heavy sensor packages across multiple external and internal bays.
The aircraft also saw action during the 1965 India-Pakistan War, when RB-57Fs deployed to Pakistan were used to conduct reconnaissance missions. On September 11, 1965, one RB-57F operated by Pakistan’s Air Force was damaged by an Indian SA-2 surface-to-air missile while descending toward Peshawar. Despite extensive structural damage, the aircraft managed to make a forced landing and was later repaired.
Conflicting accounts have since emerged over the exact cause of the damage, with some suggesting friendly fire or collateral damage from Indian air raids on Peshawar airbase. Nevertheless, the incident remains one of the few confirmed combat engagements involving the RB-57F.
Another aircraft was lost over the Black Sea during a mission launched from Turkey to monitor Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile tests. Although the U.S. Air Force officially attributed the loss to technical failure, speculation persisted that it had been shot down by a Soviet S-75 surface-to-air missile. Both crew members were declared dead after six months, with no evidence of capture.
Despite its age, the WB-57F remains a uniquely capable research platform. According to NASA, the aircraft can operate from sea level to altitudes exceeding 63,000 feet, remain airborne for more than six hours, and carry payloads weighing up to 8,800 pounds. Its tandem cockpit configuration allows one crew member to focus exclusively on operating scientific instruments during flight.
The aircraft has supported missions ranging from atmospheric chemistry studies and climate research to Earth observation and defense-related testing.
However, the latest incident highlights the challenges of maintaining and operating aircraft designed in the early 1960s. As NASA investigates the Houston landing, questions are likely to grow over how long the WB-57F can remain a viable asset—and whether a modern replacement will ever emerge to take its place.
