Flight instructor jumps to his death mid-lesson, student lands plane alone

An experienced flight instructor in Argentina jumped from a small training aircraft to his death last weekend, leaving his 22-year-old student to bring the plane in for a safe landing by herself, according to authorities and multiple published reports.

Leandro Andres Bertazzo, 42, was identified as the pilot who jumped from the Cessna 150G aircraft over the town of Toledo in Argentina’s Cordoba province on Saturday. Mr. Bertazzo was found dead following the incident, according to a statement from the country’s public prosecutor’s office published Tuesday.

Mr. Bertazzo was flying with a student identified only as Rosario when, according to accounts relayed by the flight school, he told her, “You know what you have to do, carry on,” before removing his headset and seatbelt, opening the door and jumping from the moving aircraft.

Rosario, who holds a private pilot’s license but was still building flight experience, radioed the Flying Parrot Cordoba flight school and was guided through emergency procedures to land the training plane safely at Coronel Olmedo Airport, according to the flight school’s director, Eduardo Alvarez.

“Very clear, decisive, mature, and professional,” Mr. Alvarez said of the student’s handling of the emergency, adding that she was shaken but landed the aircraft without damage.

Mr. Alvarez told local outlets that no one at the school had noticed warning signs before the flight, and that Mr. Bertazzo had even flown with another student earlier that same day without incident. Aviation officials also said opening an aircraft door in flight is difficult, comparing the force involved to opening a car door while traveling roughly 125 mph.

Investigators have opened a probe into the circumstances of Mr. Bertazzo’s death and have seized the Cessna 150G as part of that inquiry, the attorney general’s office said.

Mr. Bertazzo was a veteran aviator who held multiple licenses, including as an airline transport pilot and commercial pilot, and had also worked as a flight instructor in neighboring Chile, according to reports. His father told local media that Mr. Bertazzo had recently been struggling and had undergone psychiatric treatment that colleagues at the flight school say they were unaware of.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.