Argentinian Flight Instructor Jumps to Death Mid-Flight, Student Pilot Lands Plane Safely

A tragic incident occurred on July 5 near Córdoba, Argentina, when 42-year-old flight instructor Leandro Bertso apparently jumped from a Cessna 150 aircraft during a training flight, leaving his 22-year-old student alone in the cockpit. Although the student already held a civilian pilot license, she was required by law to accumulate additional flight hours under supervision. According to the student’s testimony, Bertso first instructed her to maintain the current flight path, then told her, "You know what you have to do." He subsequently removed his flight helmet, unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the aircraft door, and jumped from approximately 250 meters altitude.

The frightened student immediately contacted ground air traffic controllers and managed to safely land the plane without injury. Rescue teams found Bertso’s body shortly after in a nearby open field. Argentine aviation accident investigators are examining the circumstances, with the leading theory being a deliberate act. However, authorities have not ruled out other possibilities, including a sudden technical failure related to the door opening.

The flight school director reported that Bertso showed no suspicious behavior before takeoff. However, the instructor’s father revealed that Bertso had been going through a difficult period and had recently sought psychiatric treatment, information unknown to his employers. Authorities currently consider the incident to be linked to mental health issues and have dismissed criminal suspicion for now.