Pilot’s chilling last words before ‘jumping’ from plane as trainee forced to land

Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, 42, was a qualified commercial pilot conducting a training flight with a woman, 22, near Córdoba, Argentina, when he reportedly jumped from the Cessna C-150

A 42-year-old pilot has shockingly plummeted to his death during a flight, leaving a young trainee to land the plane. Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, 42, is said to have opened the door and leapt from the aircraft while in mid-flight.

The experienced commercial pilot was conducting a training flight with a 22-year-old woman when he allegedly jumped. The trainee pilot was left to take control and successfully land the Cessna C-150 light aircraft on her own.

According to the trainee, Leandro instructed her “you know what you have to do” and “keep going forward”. The pilot, who was employed by Flying Parrot Flight School in Córdoba, Argentina, then took off his headphones, put aside his mobile phone, and unbuckled his seatbelt.

Rosario reported that he then opened the cabin door – described as extremely challenging in flight due to air pressure – and jumped from a height of about 820 feet (250 metres).

The aircraft was flying near the rural area of Toledo, south of Córdoba, when the incident took place. The trainee immediately radioed for assistance, followed emergency procedures and landed the undamaged plane at the airfield without further incident.

School director Eduardo Álvarez, who received the alert from the student, said she was in shock but acted with “great level-headedness”.

She initially thought her instructor might have used a parachute but soon realised he had not. Eduardo and colleagues took off to search and found Leandro’s body in a field within 15 minutes.

His death was confirmed at the scene by emergency services. Earlier that day, the instructor had flown with another student on a re-training flight without any problems.

His colleagues painted a picture of him as jovial, professional and always impeccably dressed, showing no outward signs of distress.

Having trained there for a decade, he had been employed at the school for four years and had previously flown in Chile, as reported by NeedToKnow.

Eduardo, who considered Leandro a friend, said: “He arrived, we greeted each other with a kiss and a hug as always… We are all in shock. There is no way to understand what happened.”

He further revealed that Leandro had been seeking employment with a major airline.

It subsequently came to light that Leandro had reportedly undergone psychiatric treatment, a fact known only to his family.

None of his colleagues had noticed any red flags during the physical and mental health assessments required every six months.

The Federal Justice of Córdoba is conducting an investigation into the incident, which has left the local aviation community in shock.

Officials are scrutinising all aspects, although eyewitness reports suggest a deliberate act.

The student escaped unscathed and the aircraft did not sustain any damage, including to the door.