A training flight near Toledo, in Argentina’s Córdoba Province, ended in tragedy when Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, a 42-year-old flight instructor, left the aircraft mid-flight and died. His 22-year-old student, Rosario, stayed aboard and landed safely. The aircraft was identified as a Cessna 150, a two-seat light aircraft commonly used for basic flight training. Córdoba’s federal judiciary is investigating the circumstances, and authorities took control of the aircraft.
Bertazzo had worked at Flying Parrot Córdoba for about 10 years, held a commercial pilot licence and had previously worked in neighbouring Chile. The student reportedly held a pilot licence but had not logged enough flight hours to operate independently. Before the incident, Bertazzo had completed a flight with another student without reported problems. During the lesson with Rosario, he reportedly told her, “You know what to do, keep going,” then removed his seatbelt and headset, opened the aircraft door and exited.
Eduardo Álvarez, director of Flying Parrot Córdoba, said the school had not detected signs that Bertazzo intended to die during the flight. He described how difficult it is to open an aircraft door in flight, comparing it to opening a car door at 300 kilometres per hour. At first, the student thought Bertazzo might have left the aircraft with a parachute as a joke. She understood the seriousness of the situation after landing safely. She suffered no physical injuries but was left in severe emotional distress.
After the landing, Álvarez contacted Bertazzo’s family. His father told the school director that Bertazzo had been receiving psychiatric treatment. Investigators are examining the circumstances of the flight; the reported account contains no formal finding on Bertazzo’s motive.
The incident has drawn attention to mental-health support and safety practices in flight training. Rosario’s training also mattered: despite the emergency and emotional shock, she maintained control of the Cessna 150 and completed the landing. The aircraft remained under official control while investigators examined the case.
