A 22-year-old student pilot was forced to land a Cessna C-150 alone after her instructor reportedly removed his seatbelt and jumped from the aircraft to his death. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, July 4, over Córdoba, Argentina.
Mid-Air Tragedy
The student, identified only as Rosario, was flying with 42-year-old instructor Leandro Andrés Bertazzo when he suddenly prepared to exit the plane. According to Eduardo Alvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba flight school where Bertazzo worked, Bertazzo told Rosario, “You know what to do, keep moving forward.” He then removed his headphones, gathered his belongings including his mobile phone, unfastened his seatbelt, opened the door, and jumped out.
Despite witnessing the horrifying moment, Rosario radioed an emergency alert and turned the aircraft back toward Coronel Olmedo Airport. She managed to land the plane safely without assistance. Emergency services used the coordinates she provided to locate Bertazzo’s body 20 minutes later in a field near the town of Toledo.
Investigation Underway
Argentina’s public prosecutor confirmed Bertazzo’s death in a statement on Tuesday. Investigators are examining whether the act was deliberate or if a mechanical failure, such as a faulty hatch, could have played a role. They are auditing the flight school’s documentation and analyzing all radio communications from the flight.
Local reports indicate Bertazzo had previously undergone neuropsychiatric treatment. Colleagues described him as a former commercial pilot in Chile who was “always smiling.” Earlier on the day of the incident, he had taken another student on a flight with no signs of distress.
Praise for Student’s Composure
Alvarez praised Rosario’s professionalism, stating, “She was very shaken, but with complete professionalism she flew the plane to the airfield and made a perfect landing.” He described her as “very clear, decisive, mature, and professional.” Rosario holds a pilot’s license but has very few flying hours.
Air crash investigators remain baffled by the tragedy and are keeping an open mind as they piece together the events.
