LANGLEY, VA – NASA has released footage of a Fokker F-28 falling from tens of feet off the ground. NASA conducted a crash test at the Landing and Impact Research Facility (LandIR) in Langley. There were 24 crash test dummies aboard the aircraft.

The F-28, the predecessor of the Fokker 70/100, is the largest aircraft ever dropped on LandIR. NASA conducted the test to gather data on aircraft safety.

#ICYMI: We dropped a Fokker F-28 transport aircraft at our Landing and Impact Research Facility with @FAANews. The test was the largest full-sized aircraft ever dropped at NASA Langley and will gather data on aircraft safety. See it for yourself: pic.twitter.com/tixoRmlyea

— NASA Langley Research Center (@NASA_Langley) June 21, 2019

Dozens of cameras were also placed in the aircraft to record data of the force of impact during a crash on dummies. The gathered data will be used in computer simulations that should contribute to higher safety.

Look at the camera, ya dummies. Inside the Fokker F-28 transport aircraft, 24 crash test dummies are ready for impact in order to help make air travel safer. There are also dozens of cameras positioned throughout the bird to record data from the crash. pic.twitter.com/bEOOTGxxAm

— NASA Langley Research Center (@NASA_Langley) June 20, 2019

The released footage shows that the F-28 is released from a scaffold, ‘floats’ for a few seconds and crashes on the ground with a brutal force. The wings break off immediately after impact, but the body of the F-28 remains intact.

Ready, set, crash! ✈️ Check out this clip from the Fokker F-28 crash test at NASA Langley. Today’s successful test is now the largest @NASAaero crash we’ve ever done at our Landing and Impact Research Facility 👀 pic.twitter.com/5R4vlBSzky

— NASA Langley Research Center (@NASA_Langley) June 20, 2019

To make the test work successfully, NASA cooperated with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), the US Army and the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board).

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(Top image: from NASA video)