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A routine flight lesson in Argentina ended in tragedy after a flight instructor reportedly jumped from a moving aircraft, leaving his student alone at the controls. Despite the shocking circumstances, the student successfully landed the plane without suffering any injuries.

The incident occurred Saturday near Toledo in central Argentina. Flight instructor Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, 42, was flying a Cessna 150 with his 22-year-old student, Rosario, when he allegedly removed his headset and seatbelt, opened the aircraft door, and exited the plane after telling the student, “You know what you have to do, carry on.” Authorities later recovered Bertazzo’s body, and prosecutors have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Eduardo Álvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba flight school where Bertazzo worked, said there had been no indication that the experienced instructor intended to take such an action. Earlier that day, Bertazzo had completed another training flight with a different student without incident.

Álvarez described Bertazzo as “a beautiful person with a great smile” and said the news had left colleagues stunned. He also noted that opening the door of a small aircraft in flight is extremely difficult because of the strong air pressure, comparing it to attempting to open a car door while traveling at about 200 kilometers per hour.

Despite being in what Álvarez described as “complete shock,” Rosario managed to maintain control of the aircraft and land it safely. The Cessna was reportedly undamaged, highlighting the student’s composure and training under extraordinary circumstances.

Bertazzo had previously worked as a flight instructor in neighboring Chile and was regarded as a highly experienced pilot. Argentine prosecutors are continuing to investigate the incident to determine the exact sequence of events leading to his death. Authorities have not released additional findings, and the investigation remains ongoing.