A helicopter belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco crashed on Sunday in Ras Tanura on Saudi Arabia’s eastern Gulf coast, killing all 14 people on board. Saudi state media said all the victims were Saudi nationals, and an investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the crash.
The incident happened around 6 am local time in Ras Tanura, a major oil hub located west of the Strait of Hormuz. Officials have not yet released details about the helicopter’s route or whether it was on an operational mission linked to Aramco’s oil facilities.
Ras Tanura is one of Saudi Arabia’s most important energy centres, hosting a major refinery and export terminal. The crash comes at a sensitive time for the Gulf region, where maritime security and oil shipping routes remain under close global watch.
Authorities said the cause remains unknown, and no immediate link has been established with regional tensions. Aramco has not issued a detailed public statement yet.
