Rep. Tom Tiffany, Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor, sustained minor injuries after his plane made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau on Saturday due to engine failure near the Wausau Downtown Airport. Both he and the pilot safely swam to shore with assistance from rescue teams; no other casualties were reported. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident involving a Beechcraft K35 aircraft carrying two people.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin, had to swim to safety after his plane made an emergency landing on Lake Wausau late Saturday night while he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner. The single-engine Bonanza aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport, forcing the pilot to make a water landing in the lake. Both Tiffany and the pilot exited the plane as it began to submerge, swimming to a shallow area until emergency responders reached them by boat. They were then taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Tiffany expressed his gratitude towards the Wausau Fire Department and other first responders for their quick assistance. His Democratic opponent, David Crowley, also commented on the incident, stating that he was "grateful to God" that Congressman Tiffany was not seriously injured in what could have been a tragic event due to the pilot's heroism.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it would investigate the crash of a Beechcraft K35 aircraft with two people aboard.
Written for “Wisconsin Congressman Plane Emergency” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 8562 · logged 2026-09-13
Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor, says he sustained minor injuries late Saturday when a plane he was traveling in was forced to make an emergency water landing.
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he → say → landing
Tiffany said in a statement on X that he and the pilot swam to safety after the light aircraft, which had lost power while approaching Wisconsin’s Wausau Downtown Airport, landed in Lake Wausau and began to submerge.
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which → say → Wausau
“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.
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Tiffany → want → aid
“They got us safely off the water and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent care.
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we → get → care
Thankfully, both the pilot and I sustained only minor injuries.
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pilot → sustain → injuries
Rescue teams were called to reports of a downed plane with two people in the water, emergency services’ radio communications obtained by NBC News indicate.
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communications → call → News
Two survivors pulled out of the water were “alert and conscious,” the audio suggests.
uncertain
audio → pull → water
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that it would investigate the crash of a Beechcraft K35 with two people aboard.
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it → say → people
Tiffany represents Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and is endorsed by President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 gubernatorial election.
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Tiffany → represent → election
His Democratic opponent, David Crowley, said in a post on X: “I’m 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.”
“I wish them and the Congressman a quick recovery and that they can find solace with their loved ones,” he added.
uncertain
he → say → ones
Tiffany said “an experience like this reminds you just how precious life is.”
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life → say → you
