Argentine flight instructor dies after jumping from plane during training flight

On July 4, 2026, 42-year-old flight instructor Leandro Andrés Bertazzo died after jumping from a Cessna C-150 during a training flight over Toledo, south of Córdoba, Argentina, leaving his 22-year-old student to safely pilot the aircraft back to the ground.

At an altitude of approximately 820 feet (250 meters), Bertazzo reportedly instructed the student, identified as Rosario, to "keep going forward" and told her she knew what to do. According to incident reports, he then removed his headphones, set his mobile phone aside, unbuckled his seatbelt, and exited the light aircraft.

The student, who held a pilot's license but had limited flight experience, immediately radioed for assistance. Following emergency protocols, she successfully navigated the undamaged plane to a safe landing at the local airfield. Emergency responders located Bertazzo's body in a field within 15 minutes of the initial alarm, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bertazzo had been employed at the Flying Parrot Flight School in Córdoba for four years, where colleagues described him as a professional and cheerful presence. Reports indicating he had been undergoing neuropsychiatric treatment—a detail reportedly known only to his closest relatives—have highlighted the severe, unseen struggles individuals can experience despite maintaining outward stability.

Judicial and aviation officials are currently investigating the incident. While authorities are examining the possibility of an intentional act, the investigation remains open as they work to determine the exact circumstances of the fatal event.