Tiffany faces Milwaukee County Executive Crowley in November governor’s race
Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee in Wisconsin’s governor’s race, swam to safety Saturday evening after his single-engine plane lost power and made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau, according to Tiffany and the Federal Aviation Administration. Both Tiffany and the pilot suffered minor injuries.
The Beechcraft K35 was approaching Wausau Downtown Airport around 8:50 p.m. Saturday when the pilot reported engine issues, the FAA said. Tiffany said in a social-media post that the pilot made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau after the plane lost power.
As the plane began to sink, Tiffany and the pilot swam to shallow water and waited until first responders reached them by boat, according to Tiffany’s account. Both were taken to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.
“An experience like this reminds you just how precious life is,” Tiffany said in his social-media post.
The FAA said it will investigate the water landing.
Tiffany is a four-term congressman who represents Wisconsin’s rural Seventh Congressional District and is a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He won the Republican gubernatorial primary Aug. 11 with President Trump’s backing.
In the November general election, Tiffany will face Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who narrowly won a crowded Democratic primary. The race will determine the successor to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who did not seek a third term.