Rep. Tom Tiffany reported minor injuries after the plane he was aboard made an emergency water landing on Lake Wausau Saturday night. Tiffany and the pilot exited as the aircraft began to submerge, swam to shallow water and were rescued by the Wausau Fire Department before being taken to Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Tiffany, who has represented Wisconsin's 7th District since 2020, is currently running for governor against Democrat David Crowley.
Rep. Tom Tiffany Suffers Minor Injuries After Emergency Water Landing On Lake Wausau
Rep. Tom Tiffany is sworn in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 2020. On Sunday, the representative said he was injured in an emergency plane landing. File Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UPI
Sept. 13 (UPI) — Rep. Tom Tiffany said Sunday he sustained minor injuries after the aircraft he was traveling in made an emergency water landing on Lake Wausau in Wisconsin.
What Happened
The Republican congressman from Wisconsin's 7th District said the incident occurred Saturday night while he was returning from an event in La Crosse County. According to Tiffany, the plane lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport, and the pilot executed an emergency landing on the lake.
Escape and Rescue
"After landing, we called 911," Tiffany wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "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."
Tiffany said the Wausau Fire Department pulled him and the pilot from the water and transported both to Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Condition and Reaction
"Thankfully, both the pilot and I sustained only minor injuries," Tiffany wrote. He added, "God was watching over us tonight, and I am incredibly grateful to be here in the hospital with my wife, Chris, by my side. An experience like this reminds you just how precious life is."
Context
Tiffany has served in the U.S. House representing Wisconsin's 7th District since 2020. He is currently campaigning for governor and is facing Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a Democrat.
Officials have not released additional details about the cause of the power loss or the status of any ongoing investigations.
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