Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany walked away with minor injuries after the small plane in which he was flying lost power and was forced into an emergency landing on a Wisconsin lake.
According to Fox News, Tiffany said the four-seat Bonanza was on approach to Wausau Downtown Airport after his appearance at the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the aircraft suddenly lost power. The pilot made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau, Tiffany wrote on X, describing the dramatic end to what had been a routine political trip in the heat of a crucial statewide race.
The congressman recounted that he and the pilot immediately dialed 911 after the impact, but the situation deteriorated rapidly as the aircraft began taking on water and sinking before rescuers could arrive. 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, underscoring how quickly the emergency escalated.
Tiffany and the pilot were ultimately pulled from Lake Wausau and transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where both were treated for minor injuries, according to the congressman. 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, Tiffany said.
They got us safely off the water and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent care, he added, highlighting the professionalism of local emergency services that conservatives often argue are best supported at the community level rather than through distant federal bureaucracy. Tiffany noted that his wife, Chris, joined him at the hospital in the aftermath of the ordeal, offering personal comfort after the near-tragedy.
God was watching over us tonight, and I am incredibly grateful to be here in the hospital with my wife, Chris, by my side, he said. An experience like this reminds you just how precious life is.
Prayers and messages of relief poured in across social media after Tiffany shared his account, reflecting the strong faith and family values that remain central to many voters in Wisconsins heartland. My god! What an ordeal. Very grateful everyone is safe, one person wrote, while another added, Very glad you are okay, Congressman Tiffany.
Prayers to you and everyone aboard that flight! a third person wrote. So thankful you are all alive and able to see your loved ones. Tiffany, who represents Wisconsins 7th Congressional District and is running as the Republican candidate for governor, now faces questions about the cause of the reported power loss, which remains under investigation as he returns to the campaign trail with a renewed appreciation for life and public service.
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