A Cessna 150, the same model as the light aircraft flown by Andres Bertaso [AOPA]
A Cessna 150, the same model as the light aircraft flown by Andres Bertaso [AOPA]

Argentina was left in shock after a flight instructor opened the door of a light aircraft mid-flight and jumped to his death, leaving a trainee alone to make an emergency landing.

According to CNN and other outlets, veteran flight instructor Andres Bertaso, 42, jumped from a light aircraft in Argentina's Cordoba province on Wednesday while training a 22-year-old student. Bertaso held an airline transport pilot license and a first-class commercial pilot certificate, and had more than a decade of experience as a flight instructor.

The investigation found that at roughly 250 meters above Toledo, Bertaso told the trainee, "You know what you have to do," then gathered his belongings to one side, unfastened his seatbelt, opened the aircraft door and jumped.

Andres Bertaso, the flight instructor who jumped to his death during a training flight. Bertaso had been receiving treatment for depression but had not informed the flight school. [CNN]
Andres Bertaso, the flight instructor who jumped to his death during a training flight. Bertaso had been receiving treatment for depression but had not informed the flight school. [CNN]

The trainee, though severely shaken, kept her composure, took control of the aircraft, alerted the flight school to the incident and landed safely at the airfield. She was not physically injured but is receiving care and psychological support for acute trauma.

A search team dispatched to the scene found Bertaso's body in a nearby agricultural field about 20 minutes after he jumped. The aircraft was flying at low altitude, and he had no parachute or other safety equipment; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutors said the trainee's account and evidence recovered from inside the aircraft gave no indication of foul play.

The investigation also revealed that Bertaso had been receiving psychiatric treatment before the incident. Only his family was aware of this; the flight school had no knowledge of his mental health condition.


cheon@heraldcorp.com