A flight instructor died on July 4 after jumping from a Cessna C-150 aircraft while giving a lesson in Argentina's Córdoba province, according to local reports.
Leandro Bertazzo, 42, reportedly removed his headphones, arranged his belongings, unbuckled his seatbelt, and jumped from the plane shortly after takeoff from Coronel Olmedo Airport. He instructed the 22-year-old student pilot with him to "keep moving forward" before he exited the aircraft.
The student pilot, who was alone in the aircraft, managed to return to the airport and land the plane safely. Authorities were alerted and later found Bertazzo's body in a field approximately 20 minutes after he jumped.
Eduardo Alvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba flight school where Bertazzo had worked for four years, stated that the instructor's father reported his son had been going through a "difficult time." The family also indicated that Bertazzo had sought psychiatric consultation the week prior to the incident. Alvarez described Bertazzo as an "excellent professional" who was "always cheerful" and "greatly admired by all his students."
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the death. Initial reports suggest the possibility of a mechanical issue with a hatch or safety system, though no definitive explanation has been provided. Officials are reviewing the aircraft's and flight school's documentation, as well as air traffic communications from the time of the incident.
