Saudi Aramco Helicopter Crash in Ras Tanura Kills All 14 Onboard

A helicopter operated by Saudi Aramco crashed in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday at 6 a.m. local time, killing all 14 people on board. The Saudi Ministry of Energy confirmed that all 14 victims were Saudi citizens.

The agency stated that investigations are underway with the participation of relevant authorities to determine the causes of the crash. Saudi state news reported that the reasons for the crash remain unknown. Aramco operates more than 60 aircraft, including helicopters, that serve more than 300 heliports across the country.

The crash occurred days after Aramco resumed crude oil loadings at its Ras Tanura terminal on Friday following a nearly four-month halt. Two very large crude carriers were loading at single-point moorings at the port that day, according to ship-tracking data. Ras Tanura hosts one of the largest refineries in the Middle East, with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day.

Saudi Arabia produces a little over 10 million barrels per day of crude oil. The terminal had been shuttered earlier in the year, prompting Riyadh to divert crude through a 746-mile pipeline to Red Sea outlets. The refinery was targeted during an Iranian drone attack at the beginning of the conflict, which caused a fire and partial shutdown.

The Ministry of Energy extended its condolences to the families of those killed in the crash.