Tiffany Swims to Safety After Plane Loses Power in Lake Wausau

Wisconsin Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the party's nominee for governor, escaped with minor injuries Saturday night after the small plane he was traveling in lost power and made an emergency landing on Lake Wausau. Tiffany and the pilot swam from the sinking aircraft to a shallow area before first responders arrived by boat.

The four-seat Beechcraft K35 Bonanza, also known as a Bonanza, was approaching Wausau Downtown Airport when the engine failed. Tiffany had been returning from a La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner event roughly 100 miles away. The pilot executed the water landing, but the plane began to submerge shortly after. Tiffany posted on social media that he and the pilot called 911 immediately upon hitting the water yet had to exit and swim as the aircraft filled.

Emergency crews from the Wausau Fire Department reached the pair and transported them to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for treatment. Both sustained only minor injuries, according to Tiffany's account. He later expressed thanks to the pilot, the fire department, and other responders, noting they provided quick aid and that he received good care at the hospital. His wife, Chris, joined him there afterward. Tiffany described the incident as a reminder of life's fragility and said he felt fortunate to be safe.

The event unfolded as Tiffany campaigns for governor in a state where Republicans have held the office in recent cycles but face a competitive landscape. As a sitting congressman from northern Wisconsin, Tiffany has positioned himself as a conservative standard-bearer, frequently appearing at party events like the Lincoln Day dinner that preceded the flight. Details on the plane's maintenance history or the precise cause of the power loss remain under review by the Federal Aviation Administration, which confirmed the aircraft type and the emergency landing.

Tiffany's account aligns with reports from local authorities, though the Wausau Fire Department and airport officials had not issued detailed statements by Sunday. No other passengers were aboard. The congressman emphasized gratitude in his public remarks, avoiding speculation about mechanical issues or pilot actions beyond the successful water landing.

This close call comes amid a broader national discussion on private aviation risks for public figures, particularly candidates who log frequent campaign travel. Tiffany's survival with only minor injuries stands in contrast to more severe outcomes in some similar incidents involving small aircraft. The FAA investigation will likely examine factors such as fuel status, weather conditions at the time, and the plane's recent service records, though no preliminary findings have been released.

Tiffany has continued his campaign schedule in the days since, with his team describing the episode as a testament to quick thinking by the pilot. Supporters have pointed to his resilience, while the incident has drawn attention to the demands of statewide travel in a large rural state like Wisconsin. The Democratic nominee for governor has not commented directly on the event.

Local first responders have been credited for the rapid boat response that prevented further harm. Tiffany's hospital stay was brief, and he was released after evaluation. The episode underscores the unpredictable nature of air travel even on short domestic legs, a point Tiffany himself highlighted in his public statement.