Argentinian Flight Instructor Jumps to Death Mid-Lesson, Student Forced to Land Plane

During a flight lesson on July 9, 2026, Argentine flight instructor Leandro Andres Bertazo suddenly opened the aircraft door and jumped to his death. Moments before the incident, Bertazo looked at his 22-year-old student, Rosario, and told her, "You know what you need to do, keep going." After removing his seatbelt and communication headset, he exited the plane mid-flight, leaving Rosario alone in the air.

Rosario was forced to land the aircraft with remote guidance from Eli Leon. Bertazo was an experienced pilot holding multiple prestigious licenses, including a first-class commercial pilot license, an air transport pilot license, and a flight instructor certificate. He had also briefly worked in neighboring Chile.

Despite his professional success, Bertazo struggled with complex mental health issues and had previously been hospitalized in a neuropsychiatric facility, a fact kept secret from colleagues and students. His coworkers and students were unaware of his condition, and none anticipated such a drastic action. Flight school representative Albers expressed sorrow, noting the unpredictability of the human mind and the difficulty in understanding Bertazo's decision.

The incident has raised concerns about mental health awareness in aviation training environments and the importance of monitoring psychological well-being among pilots.