Wisconsin Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany injured when plane makes emergency water landing

Wisconsin Republican candidate for governor and Congressman Tom Tiffany is thanking a pilot and first responders after an emergency plane landing in Lake Wausau Saturday night, September 12, 2026.

Tiffany says the plane he was on lost power while approaching the Wausau Downtown Airport after he was returning from a La Crosse County event.

Tiffany says pilot Leonard Boltz told him, “We are going down. Pull your seat belt tight.” About 10 seconds later, the four-seat plane hit the water.

Tiffany and Boltz escaped the plane as it began to sink, then swam about 100 to 150 feet to shallow water, where they waited for rescuers. Fire department personnel reached the two men by boat and took them to a Wausau Hospital.

Tiffany received 12 stitches for a cut above his right eye, while Boltz received four stitches. Both were released from the hospital. The FAA is investigating the incident.