Judicial authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the recent death of a veteran flight instructor in Cordoba, Argentina, who jumped from a light aircraft during a training flight, concluding the incident as a suicide.
The deceased, Leandro Andres Bertasso (42), was a flight instructor with over 10 years of experience, holding an airline transport pilot license and a first-class commercial pilot certificate.
According to a report by local media outlet Infobae on July 7, the incident occurred on July 4 (local time) while he was training a 22-year-old female student who had already obtained her private pilot license and was completing additional flight hours at the Coronel Olmedo airfield.
Investigations revealed that while flying over Toledo at an altitude of approximately 250 meters (820 feet), Bertasso told the student, "You know what you need to do," before organizing his belongings, including his mobile phone, to one side, unbuckling his seatbelt, opening the aircraft door, and jumping into the air.
The student, faced with the sudden situation, was deeply shocked but managed to remain calm, piloting the aircraft herself to notify the flight school of the incident before landing safely at the airfield.
It is reported that while the student was not physically injured, she is currently receiving treatment and care for severe psychological trauma.
Search teams dispatched to the scene discovered Bertasso's body in a nearby field about 20 minutes after he jumped.
Although the flight altitude was low at the time, he was confirmed to have died on impact as he was not equipped with a parachute or any other safety gear.
Based on the student's testimony and evidence secured from the cockpit, prosecutors have concluded that there is no possibility of foul play.
During the investigation, it was also confirmed that Bertasso had received psychiatric treatment prior to the incident.
However, it was found that only his family was aware of this fact, and the flight school was completely unaware of his mental health issues.