Leandro Bertazzo, a 42-year-old flight instructor, jumped to his death from a Cessna C150 plane over Toledo, Argentina, on July 4, 2026. His father told Eduardo Alvarez, director of the Flying Parrot flying school, that Bertazzo was going through a 'difficult time' before the tragedy. Alvarez added that Bertazzo's family revealed he had a consultation at a psychiatric hospital a week before his death.
Instructor's Final Moments
According to the student pilot, a 22-year-old who was training with Bertazzo, he removed his headphones, arranged his personal belongings, unfastened his seatbelt, and opened the door before jumping. He reportedly told her, 'You know what to do, keep moving forward.' His body was found in a nearby field 20 minutes later.
Student's Brave Actions
Despite witnessing the harrowing event and having limited flying experience, the student pilot raised the alarm and successfully landed the plane alone at Coronel Olmedo Airport in Cordoba. The airport is commonly used by flight schools for training pilots.
Tributes and Investigation
Alvarez remembered Bertazzo as 'an excellent professional, always cheerful, and greatly admired by all his students.' He was single, lived with his parents in Cordoba, and had no children. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, with officials noting the circumstances are so unusual they cannot yet explain how it happened.
