Wisconsin Rep. Tom Tiffany Injured After Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Lake Wausau
WAUSAU, Wis. — U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Wisconsin Republican and candidate for governor, said he suffered minor injuries Saturday night when the plane he was riding in lost power and made an emergency landing on Lake Wausau.
Tiffany said in a post on X that he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska when the aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot put the plane down on the water, and the two called 911, according to Tiffany.
As the plane began to sink, Tiffany and the pilot got out and swam to a shallow area, where they waited for emergency responders. Tiffany praised the pilot and local crews, saying the Wausau Fire Department and other first responders arrived quickly.
“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,” he said. “They got us safely off the water and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent care.”
The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office told CNN affiliate WSAW that the plane would be marked with a buoy and warned the public to stay away from the area. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and State Patrol also responded, WSAW reported, and the investigation will be handed over to the Federal Aviation Administration.
In dispatch audio obtained and verified by CNN, authorities refer to a 911 call made from inside the plane. An official later confirms that two people aboard had been rescued. “Boat heads back to landing with two victims,” the official is heard telling dispatchers. “Both are alert and conscious.”
Tiffany said the incident was a reminder of how precious life is. “God was watching over us tonight, and I am incredibly grateful to be here in the hospital with my wife, Chris, by my side,” he said. “An experience like this reminds you just how precious life is.”
The emergency landing comes as Tiffany campaigns for governor after winning the Republican primary with support from President Donald Trump. A member of the House Freedom Caucus, Tiffany has represented Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District since 2020. The political fallout was not immediately clear, but the episode is likely to draw fresh attention to the governor’s race and to questions about what caused the power loss.
His Democratic opponent, David Crowley, said on X that he was “grateful to God that Congressman Tiffany and no one else was hurt in this horrifying incident, which could have been a tragedy if not for the heroism of the pilot.” He added, “I wish them and the Congressman a quick recovery and that they can find solace with their loved ones.”
CNN has reached out to Tiffany’s office, the Wisconsin DNR, State Patrol and the FAA for further information.