A Republican congressman from Wisconsin, Rep. Tom Tiffany, has shared his experience of swimming to safety after his plane made an emergency landing in a lake. Tiffany was aboard a small single-engine aircraft when it lost power as it was nearing Wausau Downtown Airport on Saturday evening.
According to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, the pilot, Leonard Boltz, managed to make an emergency landing on Lake Wausau. Tiffany explained in a social media post that as the plane began to sink, they exited and swam to a shallow area, waiting for emergency responders to reach them by boat.
Tiffany, who is also Wisconsin’s Republican gubernatorial nominee, was returning home from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner in Onalaska. The call to emergency services was made by an occupant of the plane, who was able to stand on the submerged aircraft to communicate with authorities, stated Marathon County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Cory Gladden to Wisconsin Public Radio.
Gladden outlined that Tiffany and Boltz were in the water for approximately 20 minutes before being located by emergency responders. Preliminary reports suggest that mechanical failure caused the plane’s power loss. Tiffany later shared online that he required stitches above his right eye but was released from the hospital. Boltz also received treatment for minor injuries.
The incident will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. The report from Wisconsin Public Radio featured contributions from Hope Kirwan.
Wisconsin GOP Candidate Survives Plane Crash 
Passenger Disturbance on American Airlines Flight Prompts Law Enforcement Response in Miami 
Four Officers Injured as Vehicle Drives into Crowd in Green Bay 
President Trump Expresses Desire for Irish Unity During Ireland Visit 
Comedians, Broadcasters, and Regulators Clash Over Free Speech 
The Swift Military Response on 9/11: An Insider’s Account