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Wisconsin Congressman Survives Emergency Plane Landing in Lake Wausau

The small aircraft suffered a mechanical failure, forcing the pilot to ditch the plane into the lake, after which Tiffany and the pilot swam to shore and were treated for minor injuries.

·1 min read·10 outlets
Photo via US House of Representatives / Public domain

The short version

U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany survived an emergency landing of a small plane in Lake Wausau, Wisconsin, and was treated for minor injuries. The incident involved a mechanical failure that caused the aircraft to lose power.

U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany, a Republican from Wisconsin, was aboard a small aircraft that made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau on Saturday night.11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 The aircraft suffered a mechanical issue that caused it to lose power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport.2 Tiffany and the pilot remained on the aircraft until it began to sink, then swam approximately 100 to 150 feet to reach shallow water.5

Tiffany posted on social media that he and the pilot swam to safety after the water landing.8 Tiffany sustained minor injuries from the incident.9,4,1 He was treated at a Wisconsin hospital and released the same day.9

Tiffany called 911 from the aircraft while it was still afloat.6 He expressed gratitude, saying that God was looking after them during the emergency.10 First responders, including the fire department, assisted in the rescue operation.10

Tiffany is a candidate for governor of Wisconsin.11,10,7,2

“"We're really fortunate that God was looking after us last night. And we're also really fortunate that the first responders, those behind me, the fire department,..."”
Rep. Tom Tiffany10

Why it matters

  • Lake Wausau is a lake located near Wausau, Wisconsin, and is the site of the emergency landing.11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1

  • Rep. Tom Tiffany is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district and is running for governor in the 2026 election.11,10,7,2

  • Small aircraft emergency landings in lakes are rare but can occur when a plane experiences a mechanical failure or loss of power.2

This account was written from the 11 reports listed below, filed by 10 independent outlets, and checked against them line by line. It is not a copy of any one of them. Spotted an error? Tell us.

Well corroborated10 outlets
Left4Center5Right1

11 reports from 10 outlets. The numbers in the article point here.

Left-leaning5
Center5
Right-leaning1

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