14 killed in Saudi Aramco helicopter crash near Ras Tanura, probe underway

At least 14 people were killed after a helicopter operated by Saudi Aramco crashed in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, the Saudi Energy Ministry said.

The accident occurred around 6 AM local time, and all of the people killed were Saudi nationals, the ministry said in a statement.

Authorities confirmed that there were no survivors. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash, though officials have not yet disclosed what led to the accident or released details about the victims.

According to Reuters, the helicopter went down on Saudi Arabia's eastern coast, west of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Ras Tanura is home to West Asia's largest oil refinery, which is operated by Saudi Aramco. It is also one of the kingdom's most important oil export terminals.

The crash comes just two days after Saudi Aramco resumed crude oil loading operations at its Ras Tanura terminal following a suspension that had lasted nearly four months due to the Iranian conflict.

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In a statement carried by the Saudi state news agency, authorities said investigations are being conducted with the participation of the relevant agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The ministry didn't indicate if the incident was in any way connected to a hostile attack, especially from the Iranian side. During the conflict period, Iran had often targeted energy facilities in the Gulf region.

According to an AFP report, the refinery has previously been targeted several times, notably during an Iranian drone attack at the beginning of the conflict, which caused a fire and forced a partial shutdown.

Aramco operates more than 60 aircraft, including helicopters serving more than 300 heliports in Saudi, making it one of the largest corporate fleets in the region.