Claims circulating on social media about a Hajj flight from Mauritania crashing and killing 210 pilgrims have been proven false, according to official sources and a thorough fact-check.
The viral posts alleged that a plane carrying Mauritanian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia had crashed, accompanied by dramatic images of a plane plunging into the sea and another burning on the ground. However, Mauritanian authorities have categorically denied any such incident.
Al-Wali Taha, Director of Hajj Affairs at Mauritania’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, confirmed that all Mauritanian pilgrims have safely arrived in Saudi Arabia and that no Hajj flight has been involved in any accident. Mauritania Airlines also issued a statement clarifying that all Hajj flights concluded without incident and that the airline or government agencies received no reports of accidents.
A reverse image search revealed that the photos used in the viral posts are unrelated to the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. The image of a plane crashing into the sea is at least four years old, while the burning aircraft photo dates back to 2018—both have been misused to spread misinformation.
Authorities urge social media users to verify sensitive claims before sharing, especially those that can cause unnecessary panic. Spreading false information about such significant events not only misleads the public but also disrespects the seriousness of real tragedies.
There has been no crash involving Mauritanian Hajj flights in 2025. All pilgrims are safe, and the viral images are old and unrelated.