Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany survives emergency plane landing in lake

U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin and his pilot survived an emergency plane landing in Lake Wausau late Saturday night. The incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. as the light aircraft was approaching the Wausau Downtown Airport. According to reports, the plane lost power, forcing the pilot, Leonard Boltz, to land the aircraft in the water.

Following the landing, both men were able to exit the submerging plane. Tiffany stated that they swam to a shallow area of the lake to wait for assistance after contacting 911. Emergency responders arrived by fire department airboat shortly after 9 p.m. to retrieve them from the water.

Both Tiffany and Boltz were transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation. They were treated for minor injuries and subsequently released. A statement from Tiffany’s campaign noted that the congressman sustained a cut above his right eye that required stitches.

The aircraft remained in the lake following the incident, and authorities have placed a no-wake buoy near the site. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office has requested that boaters avoid the area until the plane can be recovered.

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that it will conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing. The congressman had been traveling back from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner at the time of the event.