Aramco helicopter crash results in 14 deaths in Saudi Arabia

A helicopter crash in Saudi Arabia on Sunday killed 14 Saudi citizens, the kingdom’s official press agency said, noting that the aircraft was operated by the state oil company Aramco.

The Saudi Press Agency, citing an energy ministry official, said the helicopter went down in Ras Tanura, located in the eastern part of the country.

The agency added, “The accident claimed the lives of all 14 passengers, all Saudi citizens,” and that an investigation was underway to determine the cause.

Aramco reports that it operates more than 60 aircraft, including helicopters that serve over 300 heliports across Saudi Arabia, making it one of the region’s largest corporate fleets.

The fatal crash occurred amid Gulf nations’ efforts to increase production after Iranian attacks and the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil and gas exports.

The Gulf monarchy said the incident was not linked to any hostile attack.

During the Middle East conflict, Iranian attacks had targeted Gulf energy facilities.

Ras Tanura hosts one of the Middle East’s largest refineries, with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day, and is vital to Saudi Arabia’s energy sector.

The refinery has been targeted multiple times, most recently during an Iranian drone attack at the start of the conflict, which sparked a fire and forced a partial shutdown.

In April, Riyadh reported that the weeks‑long attacks had disrupted production at key facilities, including refineries in Ras Tanura, Jubail, Yanbu, and Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s top crude exporter, produces just over 10 million barrels per day.

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