Tom Tiffany, a U.S. Congressman, had to swim back to shore after the plane he was on malfunctioned and made an emergency landing in the middle of a lake. Both he and the pilot sustained minor injuries.
Foreign news agencies reported on 13 Sep 2026 GMT+7 that Tom Tiffany, a Wisconsin congressman, was slightly injured after the small plane he was on had to land in a lake, forcing him and the pilot to swim to shore for safety.
Local sheriff's office stated that Tiffany, a Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, was traveling by small aircraft on the night of Saturday (12 Sep) when the plane encountered technical problems, prompting the pilot to make an emergency landing in Lake Wausau.
Tiffany said that he and the pilot immediately called 911 after the plane landed.
“When the plane began to sink, we exited and swam to shallow water, waiting for rescue boats,” Tiffany posted on social media. The pilot also sustained only minor injuries.
On Sunday, Tiffany added that the incident occurred while he was returning from dinner in La Crosse County when the plane suddenly lost power while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport.
The Marathon County sheriff's office said in a statement that officials received a 911 call about a plane crash in the lake at 20:49 local time on Saturday. Both occupants exited the plane and swam to shallow water before the Wausau Fire Department's wind-powered boat arrived about 15 minutes later at 21:05.
Officials confirmed that Tiffany and the pilot were the only two on board the single-engine Beechcraft K35, which can carry up to five passengers.
“God protected us tonight, and I’m very grateful to be in the hospital with my wife Kris by my side,” Tiffany said. “This experience reminds me how precious life truly is.”
Tiffany’s campaign team said he sustained minor scrapes above his right eye from the incident.
It remains unclear what caused the malfunction. The FAA and NTSB are investigating. The plane’s wreckage remains submerged in the lake, with rescue teams working to recover it for further evidence.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:bbc