Wisconsin Rep. Tom Tiffany and a pilot survived a lake landing near Wausau, Wisconsin.
Why it matters: Tiffany is a sitting member of Congress and a candidate for Wisconsin governor, making the crash a political as well as local news story.
- AP and NPR reported Tiffany and pilot Leonard Boltz survived an emergency water landing near Wausau, Wisconsin.
- Tiffany said the light aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport.
- Tiffany said they called 911 after landing, exited as the plane began to submerge and swam to a shallow area.
- The landing happened Saturday night near Lake Wausau, according to the reporting.
Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican from Wisconsin, survived an emergency plane landing in a lake near Wausau and swam to safety, according to NPR and AP.
AP reported that Tiffany said the light aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport after he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner. The pilot, identified by AP as Leonard Boltz, and Tiffany exited the aircraft after it landed in the water.
"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," Tiffany said.
The landing occurred Saturday night near Lake Wausau in central Wisconsin. Tiffany represents Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District, based in part around Wausau, according to his House biography at tiffany.house.gov. Wisconsin Public Radio also reported that Tiffany is running for governor in 2026 at WPR.
By the numbers
- 2 people - Tiffany and pilot Leonard Boltz survived the landing.
- 2026 - Tiffany is a candidate in Wisconsin's governor's race.
Yes, but: The reporting does not say what caused the aircraft to lose power.