A Republican congressman had to swim to safety after a plane he was traveling in made an emergency landing in a lake late on Saturday night. The incident occurred when the aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport, forcing the pilot to perform a water landing in Lake Wausau.
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is running for governor on the Republican ticket in Wisconsin and has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, is currently recovering in hospital. He was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the light aircraft, a single‑engine, four‑seat Bonanza, experienced the power loss.
Both Tiffany and the pilot ended up in the water and swam to a shallow area. Emergency responders arrived by boat and transported them to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where they received treatment for minor injuries. The pilot and the congressman were praised for their calm actions during the incident.
In a post on X, Tiffany wrote: “While returning home from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner tonight, the plane I was traveling in lost power as we approached the Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau. After landing, we called 911. As the plane began to submerge, we exited the aircraft and swam to a shallow area, where we waited until emergency responders reached us by boat. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, and all of the first responders who came to our aid so quickly. They got us safely off the water and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent care. Thankfully, both the pilot and I sustained only minor injuries. God was watching over us tonight, and I am incredibly grateful to be here in the hospital with my wife, Chris, by my side. An experience like this reminds you just how precious life is.”
.jpeg?trim=0,11,0,11&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
