Incident Details

Republican Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany experienced an emergency plane landing in Lake Wausau. The incident occurred on Saturday night when their small aircraft lost power.

Tiffany was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner. As they neared Wausau Downtown Airport, the plane’s power failed. The pilot managed a water landing. Tiffany shared this via a statement on X, saying, “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.”

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office reported a private aircraft entered Lake Wausau around 9 p.m. Saturday. Local sources confirmed two individuals suffered minor injuries and received hospital care.

Tiffany acknowledged the swift response of the Wausau Fire Department and other first responders who assisted them and transported them to Aspirus Wausau Hospital. He expressed gratitude, stating, “Thankfully, both the pilot and I sustained only minor injuries.” Tiffany thanked the pilot and emergency crews, adding, “God was watching over us tonight, and I am incredibly grateful to be here in the hospital with my wife, Chris, by my side. Experiences like this remind you how precious life is.”

Background on Tom Tiffany

Tom Tiffany represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District as a Republican and is a gubernatorial candidate for 2026. He entered Congress through a special election win in 2020. Prior, he served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate.

Tiffany’s early life unfolded on a Wisconsin dairy farm. He later launched a Northwoods excursion-boat business with his wife, Chris. Currently, he is a member of the House Judiciary and Natural Resources committees.

Political Context and Aviation

Small aircraft are a common travel mode for American politicians, especially in vast or rural states. Aviation incidents have impacted political histories. For example, Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone’s plane crashed in 2002 near Eveleth, Minnesota. Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan died in a twin-engine Cessna crash during an October 2000 campaign trip. Also, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens died in a 2010 floatplane crash, despite surviving a prior accident.

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.