US Representative Tom Tiffany Survives Plane Emergency Landing in Wisconsin Lake
U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany and a pilot swam to safety after their small plane made an emergency landing in a Wisconsin lake, sustaining minor injuries.
Republican U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany was forced to swim to safety after a small plane carrying him made an emergency landing in a Wisconsin lake and sank. Tiffany and the pilot were rescued by boat and taken to a hospital for minor injuries.
Tiffany was returning from a political event in La Crosse County when the plane's engine lost power while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot opted for an emergency landing on nearby Lake Wausau. According to the Marathon County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred at around 9:00 p.m. local time.
"After landing, we called 911. As the plane began to sink, we exited and swam to a shallow area, where we waited until rescue crews reached us by boat," Tiffany wrote on X. Both men were conscious and suffered minor injuries.
The single-engine Bonanza aircraft remained in the lake and was marked with a buoy. Authorities asked the public to stay away from the area as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigates the cause of the engine failure. Tiffany thanked the pilot and rescue crews, noting he was recovering at the hospital alongside his wife.
Tiffany is currently running for Governor of Wisconsin as a Republican and is endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump. His Democratic rival, David Crowley, expressed relief that no one was seriously injured and praised the pilot's actions.
