A helicopter crash occurred this morning in Ras Tanura, a coastal city in Saudi Arabia located on the Persian Gulf and west of the Strait of Hormuz. The incident resulted in the deaths of all 14 people on board, all of whom were Saudi citizens. Their identities have not yet been released.

This marks one of the most serious aviation incidents involving Saudi Arabia's energy sector. The helicopter belonged to Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of the world's largest oil exporter.

A Saudi Aramco helicopter in 2022. *Photo: ASD News*.

The crash happened just two days after Aramco resumed crude oil loading and unloading operations at Ras Tanura port. These operations had been suspended for nearly 4 months due to the Middle East conflict.

Ras Tanura is one of Saudi Arabia's most important energy facilities. It features a refinery with a capacity of approximately 550,000 barrels per day and plays a pivotal role in the nation's oil exports.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy is collaborating with authorities to investigate the cause of the crash. Experts are examining several possibilities, including technical issues, weather conditions, or operational error.

In March, the Ras Tanura facility was attacked by drones, forcing Aramco to suspend operations for safety. Activities at the facility were restored after the situation was brought under control.

Thanh Danh (According to Reuters, AFP, Khaleej Times)