Fact-check: Claims of Mauritania Hajj flight crash are false

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.

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.

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.

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.