A pilot instructor in Argentina is believed to have jumped to his death from an aircraft mid-flight, leaving a trainee to land the plane on her own. Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, 42, a qualified commercial pilot, was conducting a training session with a 22-year-old woman named Rosario when he reportedly opened the cabin door and leaped from the aircraft over Toledo, south of Córdoba.
Trainee Takes Control After Instructor's Sudden Jump
According to Rosario, 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 cabin door. Despite the extreme difficulty of opening the door in flight due to air pressure, he jumped from an altitude of approximately 820 feet (250 metres). Rosario immediately radioed for help, followed emergency procedures, and landed the undamaged Cessna C-150 light aircraft safely at the airfield.
Search and Discovery of Bertazzo's Body
Eduardo Álvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Flight School in Córdoba where Bertazzo worked, received the alert from the student. He said she was in shock but acted with “great level-headedness.” Initially, she 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.
No Warning Signs Detected
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 the school for four years after a decade of training there and had previously flown in Chile. Eduardo, who called Leandro a friend, told La Nacion: “He arrived, we greeted each other with a kiss and a hug as always. The only thing that stood out was that, instead of coming in his own car as usual, he had asked a student to pick him up at the house where he lived with his parents in a neighborhood in the city of Córdoba. They were chatting away, and everything seemed fine.” He added that Leandro had been applying for a position with a major airline.
Investigation Underway
No colleagues had detected any warning signs during physical and mental health checks required every six months. 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. For emotional support, the Samaritans 24-hour helpline can be reached at 116 123.
