A 22-year-old student pilot faced a perilous situation on Saturday after her instructor reportedly jumped out of the plane mid-flight, forcing her to make a solo emergency landing.
Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, 42, was found dead in the town of Toledo, Argentina, according to a statement from the country’s public prosecutor, released on Tuesday.
CNN affiliate TN reported on Wednesday that the flight student, only identified as Rosario, was aboard the Cessna 150 when Bertazzo exited the aircraft.
“You know what you have to do, carry on,” Bertazzo reportedly told her before removing his headset, opening the plane door and jumping out, TN reported.
Leandro Bertazzo/Instagram
Eduardo Álvarez, the director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba, told TN there were no signs Bertazzo intended to leap from the aircraft that day, adding that the instructor had given a flight lesson to another student earlier that day.
“He made this tragic decision on board an aircraft with another person by his side,” Álvarez told the outlet. “It’s impossible to think about it or understand it, but the human mind is so complex.”
Álvarez said Rosario was in “complete shock” when Bertazzo jumped out, but still managed to land the plane safely.
Reports from the Argentinian outlet Del Sur Diario said the plane was roughly 850 feet above the ground when the incident occurred.
Following the landing, Rosario contacted authorities and attempted to show them the area where she believed Bertazzo had fallen, Del Sur Diario reported.
Prosecutors said they are working to clarify the circumstances that led up to the incident. They have also taken custody of the aircraft, according to Tuesday’s statement.
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
