A 22-year-old student pilot was forced to land a small aircraft solo after her instructor reportedly jumped from the plane mid-flight in Argentina. The incident occurred during a training session in a Cessna C-150 with instructor Leandro Bertazzo, 42.
The student pilot, who is reported to hold a pilot's license but has limited flying experience, told authorities that Bertazzo opened the plane's window and jumped. Despite the traumatic event, she managed to safely land the aircraft at Coronel Olmedo Airport, from where they had departed, and alerted emergency services.
Mr. Bertazzo's body was discovered approximately 20 minutes later in a field, identified by the student pilot as the area where he could have fallen. Bertazzo, who previously described himself online as a former commercial pilot in Chile, was an instructor at the Flying Parrot Cordoba flight school for four years.
Eduardo Alvarez, the director of Flying Parrot Cordoba, recounted the student's account, stating Bertazzo told her, "You know what to do, keep moving forward." Alvarez described Bertazzo as someone who was "always smiling" and that no one suspected he would take such an action. "The human mind is so complex, so treacherous," Alvarez commented.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, which took place on Saturday afternoon near the town of Toledo in the province of Cordoba. Officials have noted the unusual nature of the event, stating they currently have no explanation. One line of inquiry includes the possibility of mechanical failure related to a hatch or safety systems.
Authorities are reviewing the aircraft's and flight school's documentation, as well as communications from the flight. Local reports suggest Bertazzo had been undergoing neuropsychiatric treatment, information that was reportedly known only to close relatives. Alvarez described the student pilot as "very clear, decisive, mature and professional," noting her composure despite being "very shaken."