Fact-Check: No, a Plane Carrying Mauritanian Pilgrims Did Not Go Missing off the Red Sea Coast

BY: Mustapha Lawal

Claim

A plane carrying 210 Mauritanian pilgrims en route to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj reportedly went missing off the Red Sea coast after losing contact with air traffic control.

Verdict

False! Mauritania Airlines has denied the claim and confirmed that all Hajj-bound pilgrims arrived safely. No incidents have been reported involving any of the official flights organized for the 2025 Hajj season. The viral video allegedly showing the plane in distress has been debunked as unrelated and fabricated.

Full Text

Following the beginning of the 2025 Hajj travel season, several social media users and online platforms shared claims that a Mauritanian plane had vanished over the Red Sea with 210 pilgrims onboard. 

The reports claimed that the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control and was presumed to have crashed. A video also circulated online, purporting to show panicked passengers onboard a plane mid-flight.

The claim quickly spread across platforms, fueled by a video showing distressed passengers mid-flight, which many believed was filmed inside the supposedly downed aircraft

Verification

In a statement issued Tuesday, Mauritania Airlines strongly denied the circulating rumours. The airline confirmed that all three Hajj flights it operated on May 23, 24, and 25, 2025, successfully transported Mauritanian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia without incident. The company emphasized that “all Mauritanian pilgrims have arrived safely and securely, thank God,” and no aviation accidents occurred on any Hajj flights.

According to Alwiam News Agency, the three outbound flights for Hajj were pre-scheduled and coordinated with the necessary authorities. Return flights are scheduled for June 12, 13, and 14, 2025. There is no official record of any emergency or disruption during the outbound flights.

A video shared on social media that appeared to show screaming passengers mid-flight was claimed to be from the missing Mauritanian aircraft. However, this was proven to be misleading and unrelated. MASDR News posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the video has no connection to any Mauritanian flight. An official Mauritanian source reiterated that the viral footage and accompanying claims are 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,” — MASDR News, X.

Mauritania Airlines has urged the media to exercise responsibility in reporting and warned against spreading fake news. The airline states it reserves the right to take legal action against disseminating false information that threatens public confidence and aviation security.

Conclusion

The claim that a plane carrying Mauritanian pilgrims crashed or went missing over the Red Sea is entirely false. Verified sources, including the airline and official news agencies, have confirmed the safety of all passengers and the integrity of the flight operations. The circulating video is unrelated and has been debunked.