Fact-Check: No Mauritanian Hajj Flight Crash—Viral Claims Proven False

Riyadh: A viral social media claim alleging that a Hajj flight from Mauritania crashed and killed 210 pilgrims has been confirmed as entirely false, according to official sources and independent fact-checks.

The widely shared posts, which included alarming images of a plane crashing into the sea and another engulfed in flames, claimed that a Mauritanian aircraft carrying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia had suffered a fatal accident. However, Mauritanian authorities and airline officials have strongly denied the claim, calling it a baseless fabrication.

In an official statement, Al-Wali Taha, Director of Hajj Affairs at Mauritania’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, clarified:
“All Mauritanian pilgrims have safely arrived in Saudi Arabia. No incident has occurred involving any of the Hajj flights.”

Mauritania Airlines also issued a formal rebuttal, stating:
“All Hajj flights operated smoothly, and no accidents have been reported to any airline or government authority.”

A detailed investigation into the images used in the viral posts revealed that both photos are unrelated to the 2025 Hajj season:

• The image of a plane crashing into the sea dates back several years and has no connection to any recent Hajj operation.

• The burning aircraft photo is from a 2018 incident and was reused out of context to support the false narrative.

Social media platforms have seen a surge in disinformation during the Hajj season, with this particular false report causing unnecessary panic among families of pilgrims and the wider Muslim community.

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Verdict: ❌ False News
There has been no crash involving Mauritanian Hajj flights in 2025. All pilgrims are safe, and the viral images are outdated and misleading.

Authorities and digital watchdogs are urging the public to verify sensitive information through credible sources before sharing, particularly during significant religious events that affect millions.

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