A 22-year-old student pilot has successfully landed a training aircraft alone after her instructor reportedly exited the cockpit during a flight in Argentina.
The incident occurred on July 4 while the student was undergoing flight training with 42-year-old instructor Leandro Bertazzo aboard a Cessna C-150 near Toledo in Córdoba Province.
According to the student’s account, Bertazzo removed his headset, placed his phone aside, unfastened his seatbelt and opened the aircraft door before leaving the plane.
She said she initially believed he had deployed a parachute but later realised that he had not.
Despite having limited flying experience, the trainee remained calm, contacted air traffic controllers for assistance and successfully landed the aircraft at Coronel Olmedo Airport, a facility frequently used for pilot training.
Bertazzo’s body was later discovered in a nearby field, with emergency responders confirming that he had died at the scene.
Eduardo Alvarez, director of Flying Parrot Córdoba, where Bertazzo worked as an instructor, praised the student’s response during the emergency.
Alvarez said the trainee informed the flight school that the instructor had removed his headset, arranged his belongings, opened the aircraft door and left the cockpit before she safely returned the aircraft to the runway.
He described her actions as professional and composed, saying she carried out a successful landing despite being emotionally shaken by the incident.
Reports indicated that Bertazzo told the student, “You know what to do, keep moving forward,” shortly before leaving the cockpit.
Colleagues described Bertazzo as a cheerful and professional instructor, saying they had not noticed any signs of distress before the flight.
He had worked at the flight school for four years after completing his own training there and had previously flown commercially in Chile.
Reports also suggested that Bertazzo had undergone psychiatric treatment, although the information was reportedly known only to close family members.
The flight school said he had passed the routine physical and mental health assessments required for pilots.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Investigators are examining witness statements, the aircraft, flight school records and communication logs from the flight to determine what happened.
They are also considering whether any mechanical issues contributed to the incident.
The student pilot was not injured, and the aircraft landed safely without damage.
