A 22-year-old student pilot safely landed a small training aircraft by herself after her flight instructor jumped to his death from the cockpit during a lesson in central Argentina on Saturday. The incident occurred over a rural area near Toledo, south of Córdoba.
The woman, who holds a pilot’s license but had limited flight hours, was training with 42-year-old instructor Leandro Andrés Bertazzo in a two-seat Cessna C-150 when he reportedly removed his headset, gathered his belongings, unfastened his seatbelt and exited the plane while it was airborne. The student managed to maintain control, return to Coronel Olmedo Airport near the departure point and land the aircraft safely before alerting authorities.
Bertazzo’s body was later found in a field in the area between Toledo and Río Segundo. Argentine authorities are investigating the death as an apparent suicide. Bertazzo was a former commercial pilot who had been instructing at Flying Parrot Córdoba for about four years. No other individuals were injured, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The dramatic event has drawn international attention, highlighting the composure required in aviation emergencies and raising questions about pilot mental health screening. Local aviation officials have not released additional details on Bertazzo’s background or any prior warnings, pending the ongoing probe.
The student’s successful landing under extreme stress has been praised by aviation experts as a remarkable demonstration of training fundamentals. No public statement from the student or her family has been released.
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