Claim: Over the past few days, a video has been circulating on social media in which passengers aboard an aircraft can be heard chanting “Allahu Akbar.” Alongside the video, a user claimed: “Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un. A Mauritanian Hajj aircraft crashed near the Red Sea, 220 pilgrims martyred.” This claim has been widely shared on social media. One post alone recorded 402 reposts and 1,077 likes, indicating how quickly this news spread.
Reality: Our investigative team thoroughly examined this claim and found it to be completely baseless. The video being linked to the alleged crash is actually an old video from October 29, 2018. It has no connection whatsoever to any Mauritanian flight or any recent Hajj pilgrimage. The original incident took place in Indonesia, where an aircraft carrying 188 passengers was en route from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang. The plane crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff. The wreckage was discovered off the coast of West Java, and a search operation was launched involving 300 personnel and local fishermen. The passengers also included two infants, one child and seven crew members. Mauritania Aviation has issued an official clarification, stating that ‘Certain foreign social media pages spread the false rumor that a Mauritanian Hajj aircraft had crashed near the Red Sea. In reality, no such incident occurred. The company confirmed that all pilgrims arrived safely in the Holy Land, and three Hajj flights successfully departed on May 23, 24, and 25, 2025, as scheduled.’ It was further stated that ‘the return flights for the pilgrims are scheduled to take place on June 12, 13, and 14. Mauritania Aviation has urged the public to verify information before believing or sharing it, avoid giving attention to fake news, and noted that it reserves the right to take legal action against those spreading such misleading claims.’
Conclusion: It is now confirmed that the viral video and the claim about a Mauritanian Hajj aircraft crash are completely false. Spreading such unverified reports on social media not only creates confusion but also undermines public trust. It is essential to verify every piece of news before sharing, in order to curb the spread of rumors and misinformation.
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