A routine training flight in Argentina turned into a terrifying ordeal when a student pilot was suddenly left to land the aircraft on her own after her instructor exited the plane mid-flight.
The incident happened Saturday, July 4, during a lesson aboard a small Cessna C-150. According to Argentina’s Attorney General Carlos Gonella’s office, the 22-year-old student had been flying with 42-year-old instructor and former commercial pilot Leandro Bertazzo when the situation took place.
The student later told authorities that Bertazzo had “jumped” from the aircraft near the town of Toledo in Córdoba province. She then managed to fly the plane back to Coronel Olmedo Airport and safely land it without assistance. Authorities were immediately alerted, and emergency crews launched a search.
About 20 minutes after the student reported Bertazzo missing from the aircraft, his body was found in a field in the area where she believed he had left the plane.
While the student’s account remains central to the investigation, authorities have not determined exactly what happened.
Investigators in Río Segundo are also exploring whether Bertazzo could have fallen from the aircraft because of a hatch malfunction or another mechanical issue. Officials noted that the aircraft’s door would have been difficult to open during flight.
He “jumped out”
Eduardo Alvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba flight school where Bertazzo worked, shared what he said was the conversation between the instructor and his student before the incident.
“At one point Leandro told her, ‘You know what to do, keep moving forward,'” he said, according to LADbible.
“He took his headphones off, arranged his belongings including his mobile phone, took his seatbelt off, opened the door which is very difficult to open and jumped out.”
CNN affiliate TN also reported that the student gave the same account to investigators.
“She sent a message informing about the situation and proceeded to return to the runway to land,” Alvarez added.
“He took this tragic decision on board a plane with a person by his side.
“There’s no way to think about it or understand it, but the human mind is so complex, so treacherous. That’s why what happened, happened.”
Investigation raises mental health concerns
According to TN, Bertazzo had reportedly been struggling with his mental health and had previously admitted himself to a neuropsychiatric clinic, something Alvarez said only close family members knew.
“He had been in a neuropsychiatric institute, but nobody knew about it. Only his family,” Alvarez said.
Marinho said the aviation industry continues to face challenges when it comes to discussing mental health.
“Mental health is taboo in all areas, but an even greater taboo in aviation.
“Mental health issues can lead a pilot to lose their medical certificate, which prevents them from flying.”
Alvarez also said there had been no obvious warning signs noticed by colleagues or students.
“There’s a very close student-instructor relationship in a professional sense, but none of those who flew with him, nor those of us who saw him, could detect that he was going to make that decision to jump out of an aircraft. Obviously, something was up.”
He also praised the student’s response, calling her “very clear, decisive, mature and professional.”
“She was very shaken, but with complete professionalism she flew the plane to the airfield and made a perfect landing. She maintained a very high level of training and professionalism.”
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