A helicopter belonging to Saudi Aramco crashed on Sunday in Ras Tanura on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast, killing 14 Saudi nationalsaccording to the Saudi state news agency. Authorities said the cause of the crash was not immediately known and an investigation has been launched.
The helicopter went down in Ras Tanuraa major oil-exporting hub located west of the Strait of Hormuz. Emergency response teams were dispatched to the crash site, while officials confirmed that all 14 people on board lost their lives in the accident.
In a statement carried by the state news agency, authorities said investigations are being conducted with the participation of the relevant agencies to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
“Investigations are under way, with the participation of relevant authorities, to determine the causes of the helicopter crash,” the statement said.
The accident comes just days after Saudi Aramco resumed crude oil loadings at its Ras Tanura oil terminal on Friday. The facility had suspended loadings for nearly four months before operations restarted.
Ras Tanura is one of Saudi Arabia’s most important energy export terminals and serves as a major gateway for crude oil shipments to international markets. The terminal’s operations are closely watched because of its strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors for global energy trade.
Saudi Arabia has recently increased oil exports as producers across the Middle East moved additional cargoes following higher regional oil and gas output. The increase in shipments came ahead of an interim agreement aimed at halting hostilities between the United States and Irancontributing to heightened activity at key export terminals across the Gulf.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims or indicated whether adverse weather, mechanical failure or other factors may have contributed to the crash. Officials said further information will be released after investigators complete their preliminary findings.
The incident has drawn attention due to its occurrence at a critical energy infrastructure location, although there has been no indication that the crash has affected operations at the Ras Tanura terminal.
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