NEW: GOP Rep. Forced To Swim To Safety After Plane Goes Down

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) and the pilot of a small aircraft sustained minor injuries after the plane lost power and made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau on Saturday night.

Tiffany, who is currently the Republican nominee for governor in Wisconsin, was the only passenger aboard the four-seat, single-engine Beechcraft K35 Bonanza. The pilot was identified as Leonard E. Boltz, 73, of Pearson. The pair were returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska when the aircraft experienced a mechanical problem and lost power while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport, where it had been scheduled to land.

Boltz made an emergency landing on the lake around 8:49 p.m. After the landing, the two men called 911. As the aircraft began to submerge, they exited and swam to a shallow area, where they waited for help.

A Wausau Fire Department airboat reached them at 9:05 p.m., about 16 minutes after the initial report. Emergency crews transported both men to Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Tiffany’s campaign said he suffered a laceration above his right eye that required stitches. Both Tiffany and Boltz were treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital overnight. The campaign stated that Tiffany planned to address reporters later Sunday in Wausau.

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While returning home from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner tonight, the plane I was traveling in lost power as we approached the Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau.

After landing, we called 911. As the plane began to…

— Tom Tiffany (@TomTiffanyWI) September 13, 2026

“While returning home from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner tonight, the plane I was traveling in lost power as we approached the Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau,” the congressman posted on X. “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.”

He added, “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, and all of the first responders who came to our aid so quickly. They got us safely off the water and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent care. Thankfully, both the pilot and I sustained only minor injuries.”

The aircraft remained partially submerged in Lake Wausau west of the airport, with its tail visible above the water. Authorities marked the site with a no-wake buoy and asked boaters to stay clear until the plane could be removed.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were notified and will investigate the loss of power.

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