Leandro Andrés Bertazzo jumps from a plane mid-flight in Argentina: 22-year-old student lands the Cessna alone

An Argentine flight instructor died on July 4, 2026 after jumping from a Cessna 150 in the middle of an instruction flight, leaving his 22-year-old student alone in the cabin. According to the prosecutor's office and media such as CNN and TN, the young woman — identified only as Rosario— managed to land the plane without damage. The news went viral on networks after broadcasts such as Pop Base and international coverage.

What happened, according to the investigation

Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, 42 years old and an instructor at the Flying Parrot Córdoba school, was flying with Rosario in routine training over the area of Toledo, province of Córdoba, when—according to the student's story cited by CNN— told her: «You know what you have to do. Carry on.» (Spanish original: «Sabés lo que tenés que hacer. Seguí»).

Afterwards, according to HuffPost and People, he took off his headset, put away his cell phone, unbuckled his belt, opened the door—difficult to operate in flight—and fell into the void. Local media such as Del Sur Diario, collected by Gulf News place the episode at about 850 feet (260 m) of altitude.

Rosario maintained control of the plane, contacted authorities and landed at a nearby airfield —Metro mentions the Coronel Olmedo airport. She told investigators where she had seen Bertazzo fall; his body was found in a field and doctors certified death at the scene.

The school and the instructor

Eduardo Álvarez, director of Flying Parrot Córdoba, told TN — cited by CNN— that there were no signs that Bertazzo planned to jump that day. The instructor had given another lesson hours before with another student. Álvarez described Bertazzo as experienced, with experience also in Chile as a commercial pilot.

"He made this tragic decision aboard an aircraft with another person next to him," Álvarez said. Regarding Rosario, he added that, despite the shock, she acted with "clarity, decisiveness and maturity" to return to land.

Relatives told local media that Bertazzo had gone through personal problems and neuropsychiatric treatment, information that colleagues said they were unaware of, according to Gulf News.

What the prosecution says

The Argentine prosecutor's office published a statement on July 7, 2026 confirming the investigation. At the closing of this note, there were no formal complaints nor indications of third-party participation; The focus is on reconstructing the minutes before the fall. The aircraft was placed in the custody of the authorities for expert reports, including the gate and flight conditions.

Why it had such an impact on networks

The case combines an extreme scenario—a suicide in the middle of a school flight—with an unusual outcome: a student with few hours managed to make an emergency landing alone. Publications such as Pop Base picked up the story attributed to TMZ and amplified it to international audiences, while Argentine and international media contrasted versions with the prosecutor's office and the school.

In summary

Who? Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, 42, instructor in Córdoba. What happened? He jumped out of a Cessna 150 in flight on July 4, 2026. And the student? Rosario, 22, landed the plane alone and unharmed. Status? Prosecutor's investigation underway; scenario points to suicide according to the student's account and initial findings.

Update (July 9, 2026): Note based on a statement from the prosecutor's office cited by CNN, HuffPost, People, Gulf News, broadcast on X (Pop Base) and coverage of GloboNews.