Jan. 28 (UPI) -- A NASA research jet performed a gear-up landing at Houston's Joint Reserve Base Ellington after suffering a "mechanical issue," according to NASA officials.
Uncorroborated video of the Tuesday landing posted online shows the plane, a WB-57 research aircraft, coming in low toward the runway, touching down with the belly of its fuselage.
Sparks, fire and smoke spew from the back of the plane as it comes to a stop, the video shows.
NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens said in a statement that the gear-up landing was the result of an unspecified "mechanical issue."
"Response to the incident is ongoing, and all crew are safe at this time," she said.
