SouthernWorldwide.com – In a harrowing incident over Argentina’s Córdoba province, a flight instructor tragically jumped to his death from a two-seat aircraft, leaving his 22-year-old student pilot to navigate the plane and land it alone.
The instructor, identified as 42-year-old Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, made the fatal decision to leap from the Cessna 150G on Saturday. This shocking event unfolded while the aircraft was airborne, with the student, identified only as Rosario, by his side.
Eduardo Álvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba flying school where Bertazzo was employed, spoke to TN, an Argentinian affiliate of CNN. He expressed profound disbelief and sadness, stating, “He made this tragic decision on board an aircraft with another person by his side.” Álvarez added, “It’s impossible to think about it or understand it, but the human mind is so complex.”
According to Álvarez, just before Bertazzo exited the aircraft, he instructed the young pilot, “You know what you have to do, carry on.” He then proceeded to remove his safety gear, open the plane’s door, and jump.
The act of opening an airplane door mid-flight is an exceptionally difficult feat. Álvarez likened the effort required to trying to open the door of a car traveling at approximately 124 miles per hour, highlighting the extreme circumstances the student pilot was facing.
Despite being in a state of “complete shock,” Rosario, the 22-year-old student, managed to successfully land the aircraft. Reports indicate that the plane sustained no damage upon landing, a testament to her skill and composure under immense pressure.
Álvarez also revealed that Bertazzo had conducted a flight with another student earlier on the same day. This detail adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding events.
Further information disclosed by Álvarez indicated that Bertazzo had previously sought help at a psychiatric institute. This was a fact known only to his family prior to his untimely death.
Authorities in Córdoba have launched an investigation into Bertazzo’s death, with prosecutors leading the inquiry. The aircraft from which Bertazzo jumped has been taken into police custody as part of the ongoing investigation.
