A 22-year-old student pilot safely landed a training aircraft after her instructor reportedly jumped from the cockpit during a flight in Argentina.
The incident occurred on July 4 near Toledo in Córdoba Province while the trainee was flying a Cessna C-150 with her 42-year-old instructor, Leandro Bertazzo.
According to the student’s account, Bertazzo removed his headset, put away his mobile phone, unfastened his seatbelt and opened the aircraft door before jumping from the plane. She initially believed he had deployed a parachute but later realised he had not.
Despite her limited flying experience, the trainee remained composed, contacted air traffic controllers for assistance and successfully landed the aircraft unassisted at Coronel Olmedo Airport, a facility commonly used for flight training.
Emergency responders later found Bertazzo’s body in a nearby field and confirmed that he died at the scene.
Eduardo Alvarez, director of Flying Parrot Córdoba, where Bertazzo worked as a flight instructor, praised the student’s response to the emergency.
He said the trainee reported that her instructor had removed his headset, organised his belongings, unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the cabin door and jumped before she safely guided the aircraft back to the runway.
Alvarez described the student as calm, decisive and professional, adding that she executed a flawless landing despite the traumatic circumstances.
According to reports, Bertazzo told the student, “You know what to do, keep moving forward,” moments before leaving the cockpit.
Colleagues described Bertazzo as cheerful and professional, saying they had observed no signs of distress before the flight. He had worked at the flight school for four years after completing his training there and had previously flown commercially in Chile.
Reports also indicated that Bertazzo had undergone psychiatric treatment, although this was reportedly known only to close family members. The flight school said he had passed all routine medical and psychological assessments required for pilots.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
