An image circulating on social media claims that a plane carrying Mauritanian pilgrims crashed en route to Mecca, resulting in the deaths of over 210 pilgrims.
The photo was shared by a Facebook user, Ayodeji Saheed, with the caption:
“Innalillah Wainah Ilehi Raji’un 😢
Mauritania Hajj pilgrims’ plane crash on the shores of the Red Sea, on their way to the holy Mecca. More than 210 Hajj pilgrims were martyred in a plane crash.
May Allah grant them Jannatul Firdous.”
The post has generated 38 likes, 5 shares, and 42 comments.
Similarly, a video shared by another Facebook user, Akok Dut Dut, claims to show the crash and the supposed ill-fated flight.
That video has garnered 19,600 views, 174 shares, 114 likes, and 25 comments.
The Claim:
That a plane carrying Mauritanian Hajj pilgrims crashed near the Red Sea, killing over 210 people.
The Findings:
FactCheck247 Finding reveals that the claim is FALSE.
Mauritania Airlines has officially denied the reports of a crash. In a statement released on Tuesday, the airline confirmed that all three Hajj-bound flights it operated on May 23, 24, and 25, 2025, landed safely in Saudi Arabia without any incident.
“All Mauritanian pilgrims have arrived safely and securely, thank God,” the airline stated.
The airline stressed that no aviation incidents were recorded involving its Hajj flights and described the viral reports as baseless.
Mauritania Airlines has urged the public and media outlets to avoid spreading misinformation and warned that it reserves the right to pursue legal action against individuals or platforms that publish fake news, especially those that undermine aviation safety and public trust.
The Verdict:
There is no evidence of a crash involving Mauritanian Hajj pilgrims. All pilgrims arrived safely in Saudi Arabia, and the viral image and video are unrelated to any Mauritania Airlines flight.