A FLYING instructor who leapt to his death leaving his young student to land the plane alone had been through “a difficult time”, his dad has revealed.

Leandro Bertazzo, 42, is said to have unstrapped himself and jumped out of the cockpit while in mid-air over Córdoba, central Argentina.

Leandro Bertazzo, 42, is said to have unstrapped himself and jumped out of the cockpit while in mid-air

His dad has revealed he had been through ‘a difficult time’

He left his 22-year-old flying student to land the plane herself, reportedly telling her before plunging to his death: “You know what to do, keep moving forward.”

Leandro was found dead in a field after a short search near the spot where he had exited the Cessna C-150 on July 6.

The instructor’s dad said he had been through “a difficult time”, according to Eduardo Alvarez, director of the flight school where Leandro had worked as a flying instructor for years.

Leandro’s family also revealed that he had gone to an appointment at a psychiatric hospital just a week before his death.

They added that he was single with no kids and lived with his parents, Para Ti reported.

Leandro’s terrified student was praised for keeping her cool and bringing the plane down safely in a “perfect landing”.

The unnamed student pilot had a pilot’s licence but few flying hours under her belt.

She said: “He took his headphones off, arranged his belongings including his mobile phone, took his seatbelt off, opened the door which is very difficult to open and jumped out.”

The pilot is remembered as a man who was ‘always smiling’

Leandro was found dead in a field after a short search near the spot where he had exited the Cessna C-150 on July 6

Flight school director Eduardo said: “She was very shaken, but with complete professionalism she flew the plane to the airfield and made a perfect landing.”

“She maintained a very high level of training and professionalism,” he said.

He remembers the deceased pilot as a man who was “always smiling”.

Eduardo said: “He was an excellent professional, always cheerful, and greatly admired by all his students.”

No one had expected this tragedy, Eduardo admitted.

He said: “He took this tragic decision on board a plane with a person by his side.

“There’s no way to think about it or understand it, but the human mind is so complex, so treacherous.

“That’s why what happened, happened.”

An investigation has been opened into the tragedy.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16661075/flying-instructor-leapt-death-difficult-time-dad/