Wisconsin GOP governor candidate swims from sinking plane after emergency lake landing
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany Escapes Water‑Landing in Wisconsin Lake After Plane Power Loss
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany, the Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, was rescued from a small aircraft that lost power and made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau late Saturday night. The incident left the congressman and the pilot with only minor injuries.
Tiffany, who represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, was flying a four‑seat Cessna Bonanza as the aircraft approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The flight had just departed from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner, a political fundraiser he hosted earlier that evening. According to a post on the social‑media platform X, the plane lost engine power after the dinner and the pilot immediately declared a mayday.
“The pilot made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau,” Tiffany wrote. “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.”
Tiffany and the pilot called 911 as soon as they entered the water, but the aircraft began to fill and sink before rescue crews could arrive. Wausau firefighters and other first responders responded swiftly, towing the pilot and congressman out of the lake and transporting them to Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Both men sustained only minor injuries, according to Tiffany. He praised the “pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, and all of the first responders” who helped them reach the shore and receive care.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude… They got us safely off the water and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent care,” he said in a follow‑up post. “God was watching over us tonight, and I am incredibly grateful to be here in the hospital with my wife, Chris, by my side.”
Tiffany’s wife was present at the hospital when he was admitted. In his remarks, he emphasized the relief of being reunited with her and reflected on how the incident reminded him of life’s fragility.
“An experience like this reminds you just how precious life is,” he said.
The cause of the power loss remains under investigation. Police and aviation investigators have not released a definitive explanation at this time.
The incident drew a flurry of messages from friends, colleagues and the public. One on X wrote, “My god! What an ordeal. Very grateful everyone is safe.” Another replied, “Very glad you are okay, Congressman Tiffany.” A third added, “Prayers to you and everyone aboard that flight! So thankful you are all alive and able to see your loved ones.”
Tiffany, a former Navy officer and long‑time member of the House, has been campaigning for governor since early this year. The accident has not yet impacted his campaign schedule, and he returned to his duties in Washington after his hospital stay.