Wisconsin Congressman Tiffany Swims to Safety After Plane Ditches in Lake

WAUSAU, Wis. — U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany reported that he and a pilot survived a dramatic emergency landing in Lake Wausau late Saturday after their light aircraft lost engine power during approach to Wausau Downtown Airport.

Tiffany stated he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the single-engine, four-seat Bonanza plane experienced a failure as it neared the airport. The pilot executed an emergency water landing, leaving both men in the lake.

“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,” Tiffany wrote on the social media platform X.

First responders transported both men to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Medical reports indicate they sustained only minor injuries.

Tiffany, a Republican who has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump, is currently campaigning for the Wisconsin governorship. His Democratic opponent, David Crowley, commented on X to express relief that no one was harmed and praised the pilot’s actions.