Rep. Tom Tiffany Sustains Minor Injuries After Plane Lands in Lake Wausau

Audio from 911 calls reveals moments after Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany's plane went down in Lake Wausau on Saturday night.

Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is running for governor of Wisconsin, sustained minor injuries after the plane he was traveling in made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau. The private plane's pilot also sustained minor injuries. Tiffany was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the single-engine Beechcraft K35 lost power on approach to Wausau Downtown Airport around 8:50 p.m. local time Saturday.

The pilot steered the aircraft to Lake Wausau and executed an emergency water landing. After landing, Tiffany and the pilot called 911. As the plane began to submerge, they exited the aircraft and swam to a shallow area, where they waited for emergency responders. The Wausau Fire Department and other first responders reached them by boat.

They were transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for care. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Department urged people to avoid the area and marked the plane with a buoy. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will conduct an investigation into the crash. Tiffany stated on X, "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."

David Crowley, Tiffany's Democratic opponent for governor, responded on X, stating he was grateful to God that Congressman Tiffany and no one else was hurt in this horrifying incident, which could have been a tragedy if not for the heroism of the pilot. Tiffany represents Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District and won the Republican nomination in August. He has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.