Emergency Landing in Cordoba
A routine flight training session in Argentina turned into a life-threatening emergency on July 4, 2026, when a flight instructor jumped to his death from a Cessna 150G, leaving his 22-year-old student to pilot the aircraft to safety. The incident occurred over the town of Toledo in Cordoba province.
The instructor, 42-year-old Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, reportedly told his student—identified only as Rosario—”You know what you have to do, carry on,” before removing his headset and seatbelt, opening the aircraft door, and jumping at an altitude of approximately 250 meters. Rosario, who already held a private pilot’s license but was accumulating required flight hours, remained in control of the Cessna. Despite being in what school officials described as “complete shock,” she successfully landed the aircraft at the airfield and immediately notified air traffic control of the incident.
Investigation and School Protocol
Authorities launched a search operation, and Bertazzo’s body was recovered shortly thereafter. Federal Prosecutor’s Office No. 2 in Cordoba has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the death. While no formal complaints have been filed against the school, the incident has raised questions regarding safety protocols and psychological screenings for flight instructors.
Eduardo Álvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Cordoba flying school where Bertazzo had worked for four years, expressed profound shock, stating there were no indications of the instructor’s intentions. “He arrived cheerful, kissing everyone as usual,” Álvarez noted. While Bertazzo’s father later disclosed that his son had been seeking psychiatric treatment, school leadership confirmed they were unaware of his personal struggles. The investigation continues as officials review the flight school’s operational oversight.