What happened to Tom Tiffany after his plane lost power near Wausau Downtown Airport?

The pilot made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau, and Tiffany said he and the pilot swam to a shallow area after the aircraft began to submerge. Emergency responders later reached them by boat.

Why did the plane carrying Tom Tiffany make an emergency landing in Lake Wausau?

Tiffany said the light aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport. He was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the incident happened.

What injuries did Tom Tiffany and the pilot suffer after the lake landing?

Both were taken to a nearby hospital by emergency responders and treated for minor injuries. Tiffany said they exited the aircraft after calling 911 and waiting in the water until help arrived.

GOP congressman swims to safety after plane makes emergency landing in lake

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Summary

A Republican congressman, Tom Tiffany, swam to safety after a light plane made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau near Wausau Downtown Airport late Saturday. The pilot and Tiffany exited the submerged aircraft and waited for emergency responders to reach them by boat. Both were treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital.

Key Facts

Tiffany said he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the plane lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport.
He said he and the pilot called 911 after landing and left the aircraft as it began to submerge.
The plane was a single-engine, four-seat Bonanza aircraft.
Emergency responders transported both Tiffany and the pilot to a nearby hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.

By AP

Published Sep 13, 2026 8:41 pm KST

Rep. Tom Tiffany speaks, before U.S. Vice President JD Vance discusses anti-fraud initiatives during a visit to Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing at Milwaukee Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, July 8. Reuters-Yonhap

WAUSAU, Wis. — A Republican congressman says he had to swim to safety after a plane he was traveling in made an emergency landing in a lake late Saturday.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany says he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the light aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. They both ended up in the water and swam to safety.

“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," he wrote on X.

Emergency responders got both Tiffany and the pilot to a nearby hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.

Tiffany is running for governor on the Republican ticket in Wisconsin and has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The plane Tiffany was traveling in was a single-engine, four-seat Bonanza aircraft.

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