A British-born publishing heir and his pregnant wife have tragically died in a plane crash in Guatemala, authorities confirmed. Harald Undrum, aged 53, was travelling with his 26-year-old wife Judith Mazariegos aboard a Cessna 182P Skylane when the aircraft went down under unclear circumstances on March 15. The crash occurred near Villa Hermosa, south of San Marcos, in a mountainous region. Two other passengers, identified as a footballer and a doctor, were also on board. All four individuals ultimately lost their lives, marking a devastating incident that has drawn attention from both local authorities and international media outlets.
Harald Undrum was linked to a prominent publishing legacy, being the heir to Christian Schibsted, founder of a major Norwegian media and publishing group. Though born in London, Undrum was later adopted into the Schibsted family, known for owning leading Scandinavian newspapers. Confirmation of the couple’s deaths was shared by Judith Mazariegos’ family through Norwegian media. According to rescuers who spoke to Guatemalan television, Mazariegos was six months pregnant at the time of the crash, adding another layer of tragedy to the incident that has deeply affected both families and communities connected to the victims.
The accident took place on Sunday evening in the municipality of Esquipulas Palo Gordo, a mountainous area that made rescue operations challenging. Emergency responders from the Municipal Departmental Firefighters in San Pedro Sacatepéquez were immediately dispatched after receiving an alert. Rescue teams, including units RD-30 and AD-122, reached the crash site and discovered the wreckage of the partially destroyed aircraft. Initially, three victims were found dead at the scene, while a fourth passenger, suffering from severe injuries, was rescued alive and transported urgently to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Despite efforts to save him, the injured passenger later succumbed to his injuries at the National Hospital of San Marcos, according to local reports. The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics confirmed that its Accident Investigation Unit has been sent to examine the site and determine the cause of the crash. Meanwhile, the Guatemalan Army has been assisting civilian agencies in managing the situation and securing the area. Officials have maintained a guarded perimeter around the crash site as they await specialists to recover the bodies and continue the investigation into the tragic aviation accident.