Leandro Bertazzo, 42, a flying instructor at a flight school in Córdoba, Argentina, jumped to his death from a Cessna C-150 during a training flight on July 6, leaving his 22-year-old student to land the plane alone. His father later told the school director that his son had been through 'a difficult time.'
Details of the Incident
According to the student, Bertazzo removed his headset, gathered his belongings, unfastened his seatbelt, and opened the aircraft door before jumping. He reportedly told her, 'You know what to do, keep moving forward.' The student initially thought he had deployed a parachute but soon realized he had not. His body was found in a field after colleagues launched a search near the exit point.
Background and Mental Health
Eduardo Alvarez, director of the flight school where Bertazzo had worked for several years, said Bertazzo's father told him his son had been through 'a difficult time.' Argentine outlet Para Ti reported that Bertazzo had attended an appointment at a psychiatric hospital a week before his death. He was single, had no children, and lived with his parents.
Student's Professionalism Praised
The student was praised for safely landing the aircraft despite the ordeal. Alvarez said she was left 'very shaken' but showed 'complete professionalism' by returning the plane to the airfield and making a 'perfect landing.' He added, 'She maintained a very high level of training and professionalism.'
Instructor's Character
Alvarez described Bertazzo as an 'excellent professional' who was 'always cheerful' and admired by his students. He said, 'He took this tragic decision on board a plane with a person by his side. There's no way to think about it or understand it, but the human mind is so complex, so treacherous. That's why what happened, happened.'
Investigation
Argentina's Federal Justice of Córdoba is investigating the incident. Alvarez noted that Bertazzo had completed another training flight earlier that day without any problems and appeared cheerful. He had been applying for a job with a major airline, and colleagues noticed no warning signs during regular medical and mental health assessments required every six months.
