All 14 people on board a Saudi Aramco-operated helicopter were killed after the aircraft crashed in Ras Tanura, eastern Saudi Arabia, early on Sunday morning.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy confirmed that the helicopter went down at around 6am local time. All of those who perished in the tragic accident were Saudi nationals.
Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the crash. No further details regarding the circumstances leading to the incident have been released at this stage.
In a statement, the Ministry of Energy extended its deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims. The ministry also prayed for Allah SWT to grant the deceased His mercy and forgiveness, and to accept them as martyrs.
The tragedy has drawn national attention as Ras Tanura, located along Saudi Arabia’s eastern Gulf coast, is one of the Kingdom’s key oil refining and export hubs. The area plays a vital role in the country’s energy industry and global oil supply.
The findings of the ongoing investigation are expected to shed more light on what caused one of the country’s deadliest helicopter accidents involving personnel linked to the energy sector.
