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A 42-year-old flight instructor tragically died after apparently jumping from a small plane mid-flight, leaving his trainee student pilot to safely land the aircraft on her own.
Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, an experienced commercial aviator with over a decade of training experience, was conducting a lesson near Toledo, south of Córdoba, Argentina, when the incident occurred. According to reports, Bertazzo unexpectedly opened the cabin door-an exceptionally challenging task while airborne due to air pressure-and jumped from roughly 820 feet.
His 22-year-old female student, who was flying a Cessna C-150 light aircraft under his supervision, was left to take control. She later recounted that before his jump, Bertazzo told her, “You know what you have to do” and encouraged her to “keep going forward.” After removing his headphones and unfastening his seatbelt, he exited the aircraft.
Despite the shock, the student followed emergency procedures and skillfully brought the plane down safely at the airfield without any damage or injury. School director Eduardo Álvarez, who received the distress call, praised her composure, noting her “great level-headedness” during the crisis.
Authorities quickly located Bertazzo’s body in a nearby field within 15 minutes of the incident, and emergency responders confirmed his death at the scene. It was reported that earlier the same day, he had completed a routine training flight with another student without any issues.
Colleagues described Bertazzo as a cheerful and dedicated professional who showed no outward signs of distress. He had worked at Flying Parrot Flight School in Córdoba for four years and had prior experience flying in Chile. Though he had been seeking a role with a major commercial airline, it later emerged that he had received psychiatric care, information known only to his family.
Federal investigators have launched an inquiry into the incident, which has deeply affected the local aviation community. While all evidence currently suggests the jump was intentional, the investigation remains ongoing.
The student pilot escaped unharmed, and the plane sustained no structural damage, including to the door from which Bertazzo exited.