The Hoax That Fooled Thousands—How It All Began
On April 1, 2010, the Jordanian newspaper Al Ghad published what seemed like a harmless April Fool’s Day prank. The front-page article claimed that extraterrestrial visitors had landed near Jafr, a small desert town about 185 miles from Amman. According to the fabricated report, the UFOs were piloted by 10-foot-tall alien beings, lit up the entire town, and even disrupted communication networks. What was meant as a joke quickly spiraled into full-blown panic.
Jafr, home to approximately 13,000 residents, was thrown into chaos. Many people rushed into the streets in fear, convinced that an alien invasion was unfolding right before their eyes. The town’s mayor, Mohammed Mleihan, took the report seriously enough to consider evacuating the entire population. Security forces were alerted, and an emergency response plan was nearly implemented to address the supposed extraterrestrial threat.
The newspaper’s managing editor, Moussa Barhoumeh, later admitted that the intention was purely to entertain, not to terrify. However, the consequences were far more dramatic than anticipated. Al Ghad eventually issued a formal apology, but the incident had already etched itself into history as one of the most infamous media hoaxes. The event drew comparisons to Orson Welles’ 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast, which similarly caused mass hysteria by simulating a real alien invasion.
The Shocking Headlines That Spread Fear and Chaos
On April 1, 2010, Al Ghad, a Jordanian newspaper, set off a wave of panic with a front-page story that read like the opening of a science fiction thriller. The article claimed that extraterrestrial spacecraft had landed near the desert town of Jafr, about 185 miles from Amman. According to the report, the UFOs were piloted by towering 10-foot-tall beings who had plunged the town into chaos. The alleged landing was said to have bathed the area in an eerie glow, disrupted communication networks, and sent terrified residents fleeing into the streets.
The article was formatted like a legitimate news report, which lent credibility to the hoax. In a country where April Fools’ pranks are not commonly featured in mainstream media, the residents of Jafr had little reason to doubt what they were reading. The panic escalated to the point where Jafr’s mayor, Mohammed Mleihan, nearly evacuated the town’s 13,000 residents. Security forces were placed on high alert, and an emergency response plan was nearly put into action. Parents, gripped by fear, kept their children home from school, believing an alien invasion was imminent.
The Al Ghad prank drew immediate comparisons to the infamous 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast by Orson Welles, which similarly led to widespread hysteria. The incident demonstrated how easily fabricated news, when presented in an authoritative format, can incite real-world fear and chaos.
Why People Believed the Fake Story Was Real
The success of the Jordanian newspaper prank in tricking an entire town into panic wasn’t just a fluke—it was a textbook example of how misinformation spreads when the right psychological and contextual factors align. First, the prank had the authority of a trusted source. Al Ghad, a well-established Jordanian newspaper, published the story on its front page, immediately lending it credibility. People tend to believe what they see in reputable media outlets, especially when the information is framed as urgent news.
Then, there was the emotional factor. Fear is one of the most powerful drivers of belief, and the article described a scenario straight out of a sci-fi horror film: massive UFOs lighting up the sky, disrupting communications, and potentially harboring extraterrestrial beings. Faced with such an alarming report, many residents reacted instinctively, prioritizing safety over skepticism. This reaction mirrors the infamous 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast, where Orson Welles’ realistic storytelling convinced some listeners that a Martian invasion was genuinely underway.
Context also played a crucial role. Jafr, the town at the center of the hoax, is relatively small and isolated, making independent fact-checking difficult. Additionally, its history as a former military base may have primed residents to take extraordinary threats more seriously. When even the town’s mayor, Mohammed Mleihan, considered evacuating all 13,000 residents, the panic escalated further. If a government official was taking the story at face value, why wouldn’t the public?
Finally, the timing of the prank—April 1st—should have been a clue, but the story was framed so convincingly that people overlooked the obvious. The combination of an authoritative source, fear-based messaging, community vulnerability, and official response created the perfect storm for mass hysteria. It’s a reminder that even in an age of information, people are still highly susceptible to well-crafted deception.
The Immediate Aftermath—Mass Panic and Public Outcry
When Al Ghad published its sensational front-page story about an alien landing in Jafr on April 1, 2010, the town erupted into chaos. What was intended as a lighthearted April Fool’s joke quickly spiraled out of control. Residents, genuinely terrified by the prospect of extraterrestrial visitors, fled into the streets. Some refused to send their children to school, fearing an imminent attack. The fabricated details—claims that the UFOs had disrupted communications and bathed the town in an eerie light—only deepened the sense of crisis.
Jafr’s mayor, Mohammed Mleihan, took the situation seriously. Believing the town’s 13,000 residents to be in real danger, he nearly ordered a full-scale evacuation. Security forces were mobilized, and officials scrambled to assess the supposed threat. A Jordanian security official later confirmed that an emergency response plan was moments away from being enacted. The panic in Jafr mirrored the hysteria caused by Orson Welles’ 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast, which similarly convinced listeners that an alien invasion was underway.
In the aftermath, Al Ghad faced intense public backlash. Mayor Mleihan, furious over the unnecessary distress, considered legal action against the newspaper. Though the paper’s managing editor, Moussa Barhoumeh, insisted the story was meant as harmless entertainment, the damage had been done. The incident served as a stark reminder of how easily misinformation—especially when presented as news—can trigger real-world consequences.
When the Truth Came Out—How the Hoax Was Exposed
The truth behind Al Ghad’s UFO prank unraveled quickly, but not before it caused widespread panic throughout Jafr. As fear gripped the town’s 13,000 residents, local authorities scrambled for answers. Jafr’s mayor, Mohammed Mleihan, nearly evacuated the entire town, believing an extraterrestrial threat was imminent. The situation escalated to the point where security forces were mobilized, and an emergency response plan was nearly enacted. Only after direct inquiries to government agencies and the newspaper itself did the reality emerge—there were no UFOs, no mysterious lights, and no communication disruptions. It was all an elaborate April Fool’s joke gone terribly wrong.
Al Ghad’s managing editor, Moussa Barhoumeh, quickly admitted that the article was entirely fictional, intended as lighthearted entertainment rather than a serious report. However, the backlash was immediate. Mayor Mleihan, furious over the unnecessary chaos, considered legal action against the newspaper. In an attempt to mitigate the damage, Al Ghad issued a formal apology, acknowledging that they had underestimated the impact their article would have on the public. The incident drew comparisons to Orson Welles’ infamous 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast, which similarly fooled audiences into believing a Martian invasion was underway.
The exposure of the hoax served as a cautionary tale about the power of media and the responsibility that comes with it. While April Fool’s jokes are common in journalism, this incident underscored the fine line between satire and misinformation. The panic in Jafr demonstrated how quickly false information could spread, especially when presented by a trusted news source. In the aftermath, discussions about journalistic ethics and accountability emerged, reinforcing the importance of verifying sensational claims before reacting.
The Lasting Impact—How This Prank Changed Journalism
The 2010 UFO prank published by Jordan’s Al Ghad newspaper was more than just an ill-conceived April Fools’ joke—it became a cautionary tale for journalism worldwide. The fabricated report, which claimed extraterrestrial spacecraft had landed in the desert town of Jafr, triggered widespread panic. The town’s mayor, Mohammed Mleihan, nearly evacuated all 13,000 residents, while security forces prepared for an emergency response. The sheer scale of the reaction underscored the power of media to shape public perception—and the dangers of misinformation.
In the immediate aftermath, Al Ghad was forced to issue a formal apology, acknowledging the unintended chaos it had caused. The incident sparked a national conversation about journalistic responsibility, particularly regarding satire and false reporting. Many media organizations, both in Jordan and beyond, reassessed their policies on April Fools’ pranks, recognizing that, in an era of rapid information dissemination, even seemingly harmless hoaxes could have real-world consequences.
This event also echoed the infamous 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast, which similarly fooled audiences into believing a Martian invasion was underway. Both cases demonstrated how easily panic can spread when news is presented with an air of authenticity. In today’s digital age, where misinformation can go viral within minutes, the Jafr UFO hoax serves as a stark reminder of the media’s responsibility to uphold truth and maintain public trust.
Other Infamous Media Hoaxes That Fooled the World
Throughout history, media hoaxes have sparked widespread hysteria, duped entire nations, and even reshaped public perception. Some were elaborate pranks meant for entertainment, while others had more serious consequences, exposing the dangers of misinformation. From fabricated lunar discoveries to phony war reports, these hoaxes reveal the power of media in shaping reality—even when that reality is entirely fictional.
One of the earliest and most famous hoaxes was The Great Moon Hoax of 1835, published by The New York Sun. The newspaper claimed that the renowned astronomer Sir John Herschel had discovered an entire civilization on the Moon, complete with bat-like humanoids, lush forests, and sapphire temples. The public eagerly devoured the reports, believing them to be real scientific findings until the deception was eventually exposed. The hoax significantly boosted the newspaper’s circulation, proving that sensationalism could drive readership—even at the expense of truth.
Another notorious deception came in 1917 with The Cottingley Fairies. Two young girls in England produced photographs that appeared to show tiny, winged fairies interacting with them. The images captivated the world, with even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, endorsing them as genuine evidence of supernatural beings. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the now-elderly women admitted they had staged the photos using paper cutouts.
In 1983, the German magazine Stern published what it claimed were Hitler’s Diaries, supposedly lost documents written by the Nazi dictator himself. The revelation sent shockwaves through the historical community—until forensic analysis revealed the diaries were sophisticated forgeries created by an antiques dealer named Konrad Kujau. The scandal embarrassed historians and journalists alike, highlighting the risks of failing to verify sources before publishing sensational claims.
Even sports journalism wasn’t immune to hoaxes. In 1985, Sports Illustrated ran a feature on Sidd Finch, a mysterious baseball pitcher who could allegedly throw a 168-mph fastball with pinpoint accuracy. Fans and analysts were astonished—until they realized the entire story was an April Fool’s joke concocted by writer George Plimpton.
Perhaps one of the most audacious media hoaxes was The War of the Worlds radio broadcast in 1938. Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre on the Air presented H.G. Wells’ novel as a series of realistic news bulletins, describing an alien invasion in real time. Many listeners, tuning in late, mistook the fictional reports for actual news, triggering widespread panic. Though the extent of the hysteria was later exaggerated, the broadcast remains a landmark case in media influence and public gullibility.
These hoaxes—and many others—underscore a crucial lesson: media has the power to inform, entertain, and deceive. Whether through newspapers, radio, or digital platforms, the line between fact and fiction remains perilously thin.
