New details have emerged in the tragic death of an Argentine flight instructor who jumped from a training aircraft in mid-flight, leaving his young student to safely land the plane on her own.
According to reports, 42-year-old Leandro Andrés Bertazzo was conducting a routine flight lesson on July 4 aboard a two-seat Cessna 150 over Toledo in Argentina’s Córdoba province when the shocking incident occurred.
Authorities say Bertazzo calmly removed his headset, placed his cellphone and personal belongings aside, unfastened his seatbelt, opened the aircraft door, and prepared to leave the plane. Before jumping, he reportedly turned to his 22-year-old student and said, “You know what you have to do,” instructing her to continue flying the planned route.
Despite witnessing the horrifying event, the student pilot remained composed. She immediately alerted authorities and successfully landed the aircraft back at Coronel Olmedo Airport without injury. Flight school director Eduardo Álvarez praised her response, calling her “very clear, decisive, mature and professional,” adding that she executed a perfect landing despite being deeply shaken.
Bertazzo’s body was discovered in a nearby field roughly 20 minutes after emergency crews began searching the area.
In the days following the tragedy, Bertazzo’s family disclosed that he had been privately struggling with his mental health and had recently sought psychiatric treatment. According to Álvarez, neither the flight school nor Bertazzo’s colleagues were aware of his condition. The instructor’s father reportedly told the school director that his son had been “going through a bad time.”
The Flying Parrot Córdoba flight school said its policy requires pilots to stop flying if they have any medical or psychological condition that could compromise flight safety. However, officials said they had received no indication that Bertazzo was experiencing difficulties. Colleagues described him as an experienced instructor who was “always smiling.”
Investigators continue examining the aircraft, flight school records, and communications from the flight. While authorities initially considered whether a mechanical issue may have contributed, no evidence has yet suggested the aircraft malfunctioned, and the investigation remains ongoing.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, help is available. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are elsewhere, contact your local emergency services or a crisis support organization in your country.
