Wisconsin Congressman Swam to Safety After Plane Lost Power, Made Emergency Landing

U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI) and his pilot, Leonard Boltz, swam to safety after their single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza K35 lost power and made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau Saturday night. Tiffany, who is running for governor of Wisconsin, stated the plane lost power while approaching the Wausau Downtown Airport. Both he and Boltz sustained only minor injuries.

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 8:49 p.m. and first responders reached them by boat at 9:05 p.m. According to Tiffany, they exited the aircraft as it began to submerge and swam to a shallow area. He praised the pilot’s skill and the quick response of the Wausau Fire Department and other first responders, noting they were transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for care. The plane, a 1959 model, was submerged shortly after the landing.

David Crowley, Tiffany’s Democratic opponent in the gubernatorial race, stated he was “grateful to God” that both men were unharmed, and wished them a quick recovery. Tiffany himself credited a Higher Power with their safe rescue, stating, “God was watching over us tonight.” The incident occurred after Tiffany attended the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner.

Where they differ

• Breitbart emphasized Tiffany’s candidacy for governor and his support from Donald Trump, while PBS Newshour did not mention his political ambitions.
• Breitbart provided details about the aircraft’s age and specifications, while PBS Newshour did not.
• Breitbart included Crowley’s statement in full, while PBS Newshour did not report on it.

Background

• Tom Tiffany is a U.S. Representative for Wisconsin and the Republican nominee for governor of the state [Fact Refinery, 2026-08-12].
• David Crowley is Tiffany’s Democratic opponent in the gubernatorial race, having won the Democratic primary [Fact Refinery, 2026-08-12].
• The incident occurred after Tiffany attended the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-13].
• The submerged aircraft was a 1959 Beechcraft Bonanza K35 [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-13].

Our reading

Our reading is that the reporting on this incident is noticeably divided along partisan lines. While both Breitbart and PBS Newshour report the core facts of the emergency landing, Breitbart emphasizes Tiffany’s political ambitions and connections to Donald Trump, while PBS Newshour does not. This suggests a selective framing of the event, potentially to either highlight or downplay Tiffany’s candidacy. The inclusion or exclusion of Crowley’s statement and details about the aircraft further reinforces this pattern.

What to watch

• The FAA investigation into the cause of the plane losing power, to determine if mechanical failure or other factors were involved [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-13].
• Polling data in the Wisconsin gubernatorial race, to see if this incident affects Tiffany’s standing against Crowley [various polling aggregators].
• Any statements from Tiffany regarding his campaign for governor, to see if he incorporates the incident into his messaging [Tiffany’s official campaign website/X account].

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