Unconfirmed news reported on Tuesday that contact was lost with a plane carrying 210 Mauritanian pilgrims, both men and women.
The plane, which was likely heading from Mauritania to Saudi Arabia ahead of the Hajj season, allegedly crashed off the Red Sea coast.
Initial reports claimed that the plane was en route to the Holy Lands to perform Hajj rituals when contact with it mysteriously disappeared, raising serious concerns about the fate of the passengers.
However, Mauritania Airlines denied the allegations and confirmed that all Mauritanian pilgrims have arrived “safely and securely, thank God.” It added that no accidents have been reported regarding the flights organized for the Hajj season.
Translation of the official denial from Mauritania Airlines (via Ashraf on X):
“Mauritania Airlines denies the rumor of a plane crash involving pilgrims and confirms the safety of all flights.”
"نفت شركة الموريتانية للطيران ما تم تداوله عبر بعض صفحات التواصل الاجتماعي الأجنبية من شائعات حول سقوط طائرة تقل حجاجاً موريتانيين قبالة سواحل البحر الأحمر، مؤكدة أن هذه الأخبار عارية من الصحة."
The company organized three outbound flights on May 23, 24, and 25, 2025, to transport Mauritanian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, according to Alwiam News Agency.
Return flights are scheduled for June 12, 13, and 14, 2025, in coordination with relevant authorities.
Mauritania Airlines urged the media to be accurate and to avoid spreading fake news, emphasizing its right to take legal action against those spreading false information that threatens passenger safety and the airline’s reputation.
Meanwhile, MASDR News posted on X that the news about the plane crash is baseless.
“An official Mauritanian source said: The news circulating about a Mauritanian plane carrying pilgrims crashing off the coast of the Red Sea is incorrect, and the circulating video has no connection to the news.”
A video which some claimed was from the flight – showing passengers screaming “Allahu Akbar” as the plane allegedly plummeted – has since been proven fake.
Fake video circulating on social media:
“عاجل”
إعلام موريتاني : سقوط طائرة حجاج موريتانية قبالة البحر الاحمر متجهة للبقاع المقدسة ووفاة جميع ركابها البالغ عددهم اكثر من 200 حاجاً
pic.twitter.com/ebYu7lAEWF
— جبين المجد الإخبارية (@Yrthjj2a13zVMd5) May 27, 2025
