Flight Instructor Jumps to Death Mid-Air, Student Pilot Lands Plane Alone in Argentina

In Argentina, a tragic and unusual incident occurred on July 4 when 42-year-old flight instructor Andrew Bertazzo jumped to his death mid-flight from a Cessna C-150 light aircraft. Bertazzo had taken off with a 22-year-old female student from an airport near Córdoba. Before jumping, Bertazzo reportedly told the student, "You know what you need to do, keep going," then removed his headphones, unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the aircraft door, and jumped. His body was found about 20 minutes later in the area the student reported to authorities.

Eduardo Alvarez, director of the Córdoba flight school where Bertazzo had worked for four years, said the student was shocked but maintained composure and professionalism, successfully landing the plane safely. Alvarez described Bertazzo as a very experienced and well-liked instructor who had previously worked in Chile. However, he also revealed that Bertazzo had been struggling with mental health issues and had undergone psychiatric consultation the week before his death. Bertazzo’s father confirmed he had been going through a difficult period.

Alvarez emphasized that neither he nor the flight school staff saw any warning signs that could have prevented the tragedy. He noted that opening an aircraft door mid-flight is extremely difficult, comparing it to opening a car door at 200 km/h. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The flight school director urged anyone aware of someone in crisis to encourage them to seek professional help and provided contact information for mental health support hotlines.