Staff Reports
U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany wasted no time thanking the people who pulled him and his pilot from Lake Wausau after a small plane lost power on approach to the Wausau Downtown Airport. Tiffany posted a short message of gratitude and then spoke to local crews, praising first responders and the pilot for quick action that kept both men alive.
Tiffany thanks first responders and supporters
“I just want to say thank you for your prayers and support,” Tiffany told supporters and reporters. He said he and the pilot are doing well after the emergency water landing, and he thanked the 911 dispatcher, the Wausau Fire Department airboat crew, and everyone who sent thoughts and prayers. Tiffany made clear the scare will not stop his campaign, saying he’s ready to get back to work for Wisconsin.
Pilot hailed as the reason they survived
Tiffany credited the pilot, Leonard Boltz, for fast thinking that likely saved both their lives. The pilot reportedly retracted the landing gear and handled the controls so the plane didn’t cartwheel on impact. Both men swam to shallow water before an airboat reached them; Tiffany received stitches for a head cut and the pilot also got medical attention and was released.
FAA and NTSB to investigate; wreckage still in the lake
Federal aviation authorities have been notified and an investigation will follow once crews can recover the submerged aircraft. Local teams placed a no‑wake buoy around the wreck for safety while recovery is planned. Expect the FAA and the NTSB to issue updates as they work through the cause of the engine power loss.
What the incident means for the campaign
For now, the human story is simple: two men had a scary night, were rescued, and are grateful to be alive. Politically, Tiffany used the moment to show calm and to thank first responders — a reminder voters like to see during crisis. Call it a campaign pit stop, not a derailment. The brave actions of local crews and the pilot deserve praise, and Wisconsin voters deserve the chance to decide in a race that Tiffany says he will keep running.
