Overview
- Saudi officials said a Saudi Aramco helicopter crashed in Ras Tanura at about 6:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, killing all 14 people aboard.
- The Ministry of Energy announced an investigation coordinated with relevant authorities to establish the cause of the accident.
- Aramco had not issued a public statement about the crash as initial reports were released by the Saudi Press Agency.
- Ras Tanura is a major energy hub that hosts the country’s largest refinery and the world’s largest offshore crude-loading platform, and the terminal had resumed crude loading just two days earlier after a months-long partial shutdown.
- The deaths are being treated as a national loss for the families involved and officials will closely watch the probe for any safety, mechanical, or security findings that could affect terminal operations and worker travel practices.