Saudi Aramco helicopter crash kills 14 nationals, state news agency says
All 14 people on board a Saudi Aramco helicopter were killed in a crash near the Ras Tanura terminal. Authorities are investigating the cause of the disaster.
Saudi Aramco helicopter crash kills 14 nationals, state news agency says
A helicopter belonging to the state oil giant Saudi Aramco crashed in Ras Tanura on Sunday, June 28, 2026, killing all 14 people on board. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the victims were all Saudi nationals.
The aircraft went down at approximately 6 a.m. Local time (03:00 GMT) on the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, in an area west of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the state news agency, which cited an official at the Energy Ministry, the cause of the crash remains unknown.
Investigations are currently underway with the participation of relevant authorities to determine why the aircraft crashed. Saudi Arabia has not indicated that the accident was connected to a hostile attack.
The crash occurred near the Ras Tanura terminal, a critical site for the kingdom's energy sector. Ras Tanura is home to one of the Middle East's largest refineries, which has a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day (bpd). This facility has been a target in the past, including a drone attack by Iran at the start of the conflict that caused a fire and led to a partial shutdown.
Riyadh previously stated in April that weeks of attacks disrupted production at several key facilities, including refineries in Yanbu, Jubail, Riyadh, and Ras Tanura.
The disaster follows a period of operational recovery for the oil giant. On Friday, June 26, 2026, Aramco resumed crude oil loadings at its Ras Tanura terminal after they had been halted for nearly four months. One report attributed the prolonged halt to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Saudi Arabia, which produces a little over 10 million bpd, is the world's largest crude exporter. The kingdom is currently part of a broader rush by Middle East producers to increase oil and gas output and move cargoes. This surge in activity comes ahead of an interim deal intended to halt the war between the United States and Iran.
The loss of the aircraft affects one of the largest corporate fleets in the region. Aramco operates more than 60 aircraft, including helicopters that serve over 300 heliports across Saudi Arabia.
Aramco did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. State media reported that condolences have been sent to the families of the 14 citizens who died in the accident.
