A widely circulated claim on social media about a Hajj flight from Mauritania crashing and resulting in the deaths of 210 pilgrims has been proven false by official sources and a detailed fact-check.
The viral news alleged that a plane carrying Hajj pilgrims from the West African nation of Mauritania to Saudi Arabia had met with a tragic accident, claiming the lives of everyone on board. The post was accompanied by shocking images—one depicting a plane crashing into the sea, and another showing a burning aircraft on the ground.
However, upon verification, authorities in Mauritania have strongly denied the report.
In a statement issued by Al-Wali Taha, the Director of Hajj Affairs at Mauritania’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, it was confirmed that “all Mauritanian pilgrims have safely arrived in Saudi Arabia, and no incident has occurred involving any Hajj flights.”
Mauritania Airlines also released an official clarification, stating that “all Hajj flights concluded without any incident, and neither the airline nor government bodies received any reports of accidents.”
A closer examination of the images shared with the false reports reveals they are misleading and unrelated to the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. According to a reverse image search:
- The photo of a plane crashing into the sea is at least four years old and has no connection to any Hajj flight.
- The second image, depicting a burning aircraft, dates back to 2018 and has been reused out of context to fuel misinformation.
These findings confirm that the claims of a Mauritanian Hajj flight crash are entirely baseless and constitute a disinformation campaign.
Social media users are urged to verify sensitive claims before sharing, especially those that can cause widespread panic and distress. Spreading false information about such emotionally significant events not only misleads the public but also disrespects the gravity of actual tragedies.
Verdict: ❌ False News
There has been no crash involving Mauritanian Hajj flights in 2025. All pilgrims are safe. The viral images are old and unrelated.
