WASHINGTON — US Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany and a pilot escaped with minor injuries after their small aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Wausau Lake, Wisconsin, on Saturday night.
The single-engine Beechcraft K35 aircraft was carrying only Tiffany and the pilot when it experienced an apparent mechanical failure, according to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office.
Tiffany said in a social media post on Sunday that the aircraft lost electrical power shortly before landing at Wausau Downtown Airport following a dinner in La Crosse County.
After the emergency landing, the two men called 911 for assistance. As the aircraft began to sink, they quickly exited the plane and swam toward a shallow area, where they waited for rescuers to arrive.
The Wausau Fire Department reached them by airboat about 15 minutes after authorities were alerted, rescuing them at around 9:05 p.m., the sheriff’s office said.
Speaking from hospital, Tiffany said he was grateful to have survived the incident. His campaign team said he suffered a minor cut above his right eye.
The sheriff’s office said the aircraft remained submerged in the lake until recovery crews took action.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to jointly investigate the crash and determine the cause of the emergency landing.
Clarify the crash and landing details
Remove unsupported investigation wording
Tighten the report for faster reading
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