Wisconsin Congressman Rescued After Plane’s Emergency Lake Landing

A Republican congressman from Wisconsin, Tom Tiffany, shared a harrowing experience of how he and a pilot swam to safety following an emergency landing in a lake. While returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska, Tiffany was aboard a small single-engine plane. The aircraft lost power while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport on a Saturday evening.

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the pilot, Leonard Boltz, executed an emergency landing on Lake Wausau. Tiffany recounted the incident in a post on X, stating, “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.”

Lt. Cory Gladden from the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office explained that the occupants managed to call 911 while standing on the partially submerged plane. He noted that Tiffany and Boltz remained in the water for roughly 20 minutes until help arrived. The incident appears to be caused by mechanical failure, according to initial reports.

Post-incident, Tiffany received stitches above his right eye and was discharged from the hospital. Meanwhile, Boltz also received treatment for minor injuries. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating this incident.