A tragic incident unfolded during a flying lesson when a flight instructor unexpectedly jumped out of the aircraft, leaving his student, a young woman named Rosario, to land the plane by herself. The instructor, Bertazzo, told Rosario to continue flying before removing his headset and seatbelt, opening the door, and leaping out of the Cessna 150 aircraft midflight. The shocking event took place in Toledo, Argentina, and resulted in Bertazzo’s death.
Despite the distressing situation, Rosario managed to safely land the aircraft, although she suffered severe psychological trauma and required hospitalization afterward. Rosario, who already held a private pilot license, was undergoing additional flight training at the time of the incident.
Flight school director Eduardo Álvarez expressed disbelief at Bertazzo’s actions, highlighting that the instructor had conducted a successful flight earlier that day. He described Bertazzo as a kind individual, expressing surprise at the tragic turn of events. Álvarez emphasized the complexity of opening an aircraft door midair, likening it to attempting to open a car door at high speed.
Investigations revealed that Bertazzo had undergone psychiatric treatment before the incident, unbeknownst to the flight school. Prosecutors will investigate the circumstances surrounding the flight instructor’s fatal decision, shedding light on the events leading up to the tragedy.
