A 42-year-old commercial pilot died after jumping from an aircraft during a training flight, forcing a 22-year-old female student to land the plane alone. Leandro Andrés Bertazzo opened the cabin door of a Cessna C-150 light aircraft and leaped from an altitude of approximately 820 feet (250 metres) near Toledo, south of Córdoba, Argentina.
Student Recalls Final Moments
The student, identified only as Rosario, said Bertazzo told her "you know what you have to do" and "keep going forward" before removing his headphones, setting aside his mobile phone, unfastening his seatbelt, and opening the door. She described the door as extremely difficult to open in flight due to air pressure. Rosario immediately radioed for help, followed emergency procedures, and landed the undamaged plane at the airfield without further incident.
Investigation Underway
School director Eduardo Álvarez, who received the alert, said the student was in shock but acted with "great level-headedness." She initially thought her instructor might have deployed a parachute but soon realised he had not. Álvarez and colleagues took off to search and located Bertazzo's body in a field within 15 minutes. Emergency services confirmed his death at the scene.
Bertazzo had flown earlier that day with another student on a re-training flight with no issues. Colleagues described him as cheerful, professional, and impeccably presented, with no visible signs of distress. He had worked at Flying Parrot Flight School for four years after a decade of training there and had previously flown in Chile, according to NeedToKnow.
Shock and Unanswered Questions
Álvarez, who called Bertazzo a friend, said: "He arrived, we greeted each other with a kiss and a hug as always… We are all in shock. There is no way to understand what happened." He added that Bertazzo had been applying for a position with a major airline. It later emerged that Bertazzo had reportedly received psychiatric treatment, a detail known only to his family. No colleagues had detected any warning signs during physical and mental health checks required every six months.
Official Investigation
The Federal Justice of Córdoba is investigating the incident, which has stunned the local aviation community. Officials are examining all circumstances, although witness accounts point to a deliberate act. The student was unharmed and the aircraft sustained no damage, including to the door.
