A 22-year-old student pilot was forced to land a plane alone after her instructor, Leandro Bertazzo, 42, allegedly jumped to his death from the cockpit during a training flight over Toledo, Argentina, on July 4. The unnamed student, who had a pilot's license but limited flying hours, watched Bertazzo plunge from the Cessna C150 and then safely landed the aircraft unaided at Coronel Olmedo Airport in Cordoba.
Student's Account and Immediate Response
According to the student's account, Bertazzo opened the window, removed his headphones, arranged his belongings including his mobile phone, unfastened his seatbelt, opened the door—which is notoriously difficult to open—and jumped. The student initially thought he had deployed a parachute but soon realized he had not. Despite the harrowing experience, she raised the alarm and returned to the runway to land. Eduardo Alvarez, director of the flight school Flying Parrot Cordoba, described the student as 'very clear, decisive, mature and professional.' He added, 'She was very shaken, but with complete professionalism she flew the plane to the airfield and made a perfect landing.'
Instructor's Background and Investigation
Bertazzo, a former commercial pilot in Chile, had reportedly undergone neuropsychiatric treatment, though only close family members were aware. Alvarez noted that Bertazzo was 'always smiling' and that his death came 'completely out of the blue.' The instructor reportedly told the student during the flight, 'You know what to do, keep moving forward.'
An investigation is ongoing, with officials examining the possibility of a mechanical failure related to a hatch or safety system. The aircraft and flight school documentation are being studied, along with communications from the flight. Bertazzo's body was found in a nearby field 20 minutes after the incident.
