Wisconsin congressman swims to safety after plane makes emergency landing in lake

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Published: 2026-09-13T16:16:10.939Z • Permanent link

Congressman Glenn Grothman, a Republican representative from Wisconsin, narrowly escaped a potentially disastrous incident on Wednesday when the plane he was traveling on made an emergency landing in a nearby lake. Grothman, who was returning from a speech in the Upper Peninsula, was among the passengers on the small charter plane that encountered engine failure, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. Fortunately, the plane touched down safely in Lake Superior, and Grothman, along with the pilot, Tom Tiffany, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, managed to swim to safety. Eyewitnesses reported that the plane was carrying a total of six passengers, including Grothman, Tiffany, and several staff members.

Details of the incident are still emerging, but sources close to the investigation have confirmed that the plane's engine failure was caused by a mechanical issue. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has dispatched a team to the scene to investigate the cause of the incident. Grothman's office released a statement expressing relief that no one was seriously injured, but Grothman himself was shaken by the experience. "I'm just grateful to be alive," he said in a statement. "This was a harrowing experience, and I'm lucky to have made it out safely.

Tiffany, who was traveling with Grothman, also expressed his gratitude for being rescued. "I'm just thankful to be alive and to have made it out of this situation safely," he said. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of charter flights, particularly those operating in remote areas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident and is reviewing its safety procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The incident highlights the risks associated with charter flights, particularly those operating in remote areas. Charter flights are often used by politicians and business leaders to travel quickly and efficiently, but they can also be more vulnerable to mechanical issues and other safety risks. The incident has sparked calls for greater safety measures to be put in place for charter flights, particularly those operating in areas with limited air traffic control. Companies such as NetJets and Flexjet, which operate charter flights, have already issued statements expressing their commitment to safety and promising to cooperate fully with the NTSB investigation.

The incident also has implications for research communities that rely on charter flights to conduct fieldwork. Researchers who rely on charter flights to collect data in remote areas may be forced to re-evaluate their safety protocols and consider alternative methods for collecting data. The incident has also raised questions about the effectiveness of safety measures in place for charter flights, particularly those operating in areas with limited air traffic control. Regulatory bodies such as the FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will need to review their safety procedures to ensure that charter flights are operating safely and efficiently.

The incident is not an isolated incident, and there have been several other charter flight incidents in recent years. In 2019, a charter plane carrying a group of people to a music festival in Illinois made an emergency landing in a field, killing all on board. The incident was attributed to a mechanical issue, and it highlighted the risks associated with charter flights. The incident has also sparked debates about the role of charter flights in remote areas, with some arguing that they provide a vital service, while others argue that they pose a safety risk.