Aramco helicopter crash kills 14 in Saudi Arabia

riyadh
A helicopter crash in Saudi Arabia killed 14 Saudi citizens on Sunday, the official press agency reported, adding that the aircraft belonged to state oil giant Aramco.
The Saudi Press Agency, citing an official at the energy ministry, reported the helicopter crashed in Ras Tanura in the country’s east.
“The accident claimed the lives of all 14 passengers, all Saudi citizens,” the agency said, adding that an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the crash.
Aramco says it operates more than 60 aircraft, including helicopters serving more than 300 heliports in Saudi Arabia, making it one of the largest corporate fleets in the region.
The deadly accident comes as oil-rich Gulf nations seek to ramp up their output following Iranian attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the export of oil and gas.
Saudi Arabia did not indicate the incident was in any way connected to a hostile attack.
During the Middle East war, Iranian attacks had targeted energy facilities in the Gulf.
Ras Tanura is home to one of the largest refineries in the Middle East, with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day, and is critical to Saudi Arabia’s energy sector.
The refinery has 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.
Riyadh said in April that the weeks-long attacks had disrupted several production operations at key facilities, with refineries in Ras Tanura as well as Jubail, Yanbu and Riyadh targeted.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading crude exporter, produces a little over 10 million bpd.
Pakistan extended its condolences to Saudi Arabia following the tragic helicopter crash in Ras Tanura that claimed the lives of 14 Saudi nationals.
In a post on X, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the government and people of Pakistan were “deeply grieved” by the devastating incident.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this tragic accident and their grieving families,” Dar wrote.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s support, DPM Dar said the country stood in “complete and unwavering solidarity” with its Saudi brethren during this hour of national grief.