A viral post circulating on social media platforms claims that a Mauritania Airlines flight carrying 210 Hajj pilgrims crashed into the Red Sea while en route to Saudi Arabia. However, The Express Tribune has verified that this claim is false.
Some social media users shared videos and unverified images, falsely claiming they showed the crash site of a Mauritania Hajj flight bound for Saudi Arabia.
May Allah have mercy on all 210 #Mauritanians who were among the pilgrims who were supposed to perform the Hajj pilgrimage this year have died. The plane they were on crashed while they were on their way to the shrine of Allah while reportedly over the Red Sea coast.
This… pic.twitter.com/37m7ZmFHEI
— Mohamed Gahnug (@Gahnug18Mohamed) May 28, 2025
Upon investigation, The Express Tribune found out that Mauritania’s Director of Hajj at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, El Waly Taha, categorically denied the reports. Speaking to local media, he confirmed that all Mauritanian pilgrims are safe and have successfully arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
Mauritania Denies Rumor of Pilgrims’ Plane Crash off the Red Sea Coast
The rumor circulating about a Mauritanian pilgrims’ plane crashing off the Red Sea coast is false.
Mauritania’s Director of Hajj at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, El Waly Taha, denied the claim, confirming… pic.twitter.com/OGVwKIIKAQ— khaled mahmoued (@khaledmahmoued1) May 27, 2025
Further clarification was provided by Mauritania Airlines, which issued an official statement confirming that three scheduled flights that operated on May 23, 24, and 25 reached their destinations in Saudi Arabia without any issues.
“Mauritania Airlines operated three flights for this year’s Hajj season and all three reached their destination safely,” the statement read.
The claim appears to be entirely baseless, with no credible media outlet or aviation authority reporting any such incident. Both Mauritanian officials and the airline have urged the public to disregard the rumour and refrain from spreading unverified information, particularly during the sensitive Hajj period.
