At least 14 people have been killed after a helicopter operated by Saudi Aramco crashed in eastern Saudi Arabia on Sunday, with all those on board confirmed dead.
According to a statement from the state-owned energy giant, the aircraft went down at around 6:00 a.m. local time in Ras Tanura, a key hub for the country’s oil industry. The company said all of the victims were Saudi nationals.
Saudi Aramco did not disclose the cause of the crash, and authorities have launched an investigation to determine what led to the accident.
The company, which is the world’s largest oil producer and is majority-owned by the Saudi government, said no further details were immediately available.
Local media reported that investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, although officials have not suggested any link to hostile activity.
The incident comes at a time when Gulf oil producers are working to increase energy exports following months of regional tensions and disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran, as well as the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil shipping routes.
Ras Tanura is home to one of the Middle East’s largest oil refineries, capable of processing around 550,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The facility plays a vital role in Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure and export operations.
Earlier this year, the refinery was among several energy facilities affected by regional hostilities, including drone attacks that caused fires and temporarily disrupted production.
Saudi Arabia has also been redirecting some oil exports through pipeline networks to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz during the period of instability.
Last week, Saudi Aramco announced that crude oil loading operations at the Ras Tanura terminal had resumed after months of disruption caused by the regional conflict.
Saudi Arabia remains the world’s largest crude oil exporter, producing more than 10 million barrels of oil per day.
