The Jafr alien invasion was a prank published on the front page of the Jordanian newspaper Al-Ghad on April 1, 2010.
[1][2] The story described in great detail that the town had been lit by the aliens' flying saucers during their night landing, and that the light caused residents to run out into the streets.
Jafr Mayor Mohammed Mleihan notified security authorities and prepared to issue an evacuation order for the entire town of 13,000 residents.
[1] Mleihan noted that residents were "scared that aliens would attack them"[1] and considered suing the newspaper for their "big lie".
[1] The prank drew comparison to the 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds which provoked panic in the United States.