A 22-year-old student pilot successfully landed a Cessna 150 alone after her flight instructor jumped out of the aircraft mid-flight on Saturday in Argentina. The instructor, Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, 42, was later found dead in the town of Toledo, according to a statement from the country’s public prosecutor released on Tuesday.
Incident Details
CNN affiliate TN reported that the student, identified only as Rosario, was aboard the aircraft when Bertazzo exited. According to TN, Bertazzo told Rosario, “You know what you have to do, carry on,” before removing his headset, opening the plane door, and jumping out. The plane was approximately 850 feet above the ground at the time, according to reports from the Argentinian outlet Del Sur Diario.
Instructor’s Background
Eduardo Álvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba, told TN there were no indications that Bertazzo intended to leap from the aircraft that day. Álvarez noted that Bertazzo had given a flight lesson to another student earlier that day. “He made this tragic decision on board an aircraft with another person by his side,” Álvarez said. “It’s impossible to think about it or understand it, but the human mind is so complex.”
Student’s Response
Álvarez stated that Rosario was in “complete shock” after Bertazzo jumped but managed to land the plane safely. After landing, she contacted authorities and attempted to show them the area where she believed Bertazzo had fallen, according to Del Sur Diario. Prosecutors are working to clarify the circumstances leading up to the incident and have taken custody of the aircraft.
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
