A father shared that his son, Leandro Bertazzo, 42, had been struggling before tragically jumping to his death from a plane mid-flight, leaving his 22-year-old student to handle the landing alone during a training session over Córdoba in central Argentina on July 6. Before his fatal leap, Bertazzo reportedly told the student to continue and then exited the aircraft without deploying a parachute. His body was later discovered in a nearby field.
The flight school’s director, Eduardo Alvarez, revealed that Bertazzo had been experiencing personal difficulties. Reports indicated that Bertazzo had recently visited a psychiatric hospital and lived with his parents. Despite the harrowing experience, the student successfully landed the plane, impressing officials with her professionalism and composure.
Alvarez praised the student for her exceptional performance, highlighting her ability to bring the plane back safely to the airfield and execute a flawless landing. He described Bertazzo as a well-regarded and cheerful professional but expressed disbelief at his tragic decision to end his life while flying with a student. Alvarez mentioned that Bertazzo had shown no alarming signs during routine medical and mental health evaluations.
The Federal Justice of Córdoba in Argentina is currently investigating the incident. For those in need of support, the Samaritans offer a 24-hour helpline and other resources.