A routine flight lesson in Argentina ended in tragedy after a flight instructor reportedly jumped from a small aircraft while it was in the air, forcing his student to take control and land the plane alone.
According to reports, the incident happened Saturday near Toledo, Argentina, during a training flight aboard a Cessna aircraft. Instructor Leandro Andrés Bertazzo was conducting the lesson when he suddenly turned to his student, Rosario, and said, “You know what you have to do, carry on.”
Moments later, Bertazzo removed his headset, unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the aircraft door, and jumped from the plane, leaving the student alone in the cockpit.
Despite the traumatic situation, Rosario remained calm and successfully landed the aircraft without assistance. Local reports say she already held a private pilot’s license but was required to fly with an instructor or safety pilot. She initially believed Bertazzo was wearing a parachute when he exited the aircraft.
The director of the flight school told local media that Bertazzo had shown no signs of distress before the incident. Earlier that same day, he had reportedly completed another instructional flight with a different student without any issues.
Emergency crews located Bertazzo’s body approximately 15 to 20 minutes after he jumped from the aircraft.
Authorities with the Federal Court of Córdoba have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident as officials work to determine what may have led to the instructor’s actions.
The student was left shaken by the ordeal but was not physically injured thanks to her successful emergency landing.
