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A helicopter operated by Saudi state oil giant Aramco crashed in the eastern city of Ras Tanura on Sunday, killing all 14 people on board, Saudi authorities said.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, which cited an official from the Ministry of Energy, all the victims were Saudi nationals.
“The accident claimed the lives of all 14 passengers, all Saudi citizens,” the agency said.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
The incident occurred in Ras Tanura, home to one of the Middle East’s largest oil refineries, which has a production capacity of about 550,000 barrels per day and plays a key role in Saudi Arabia‘s energy sector.
Officials did not indicate that the crash was linked to any hostile attack.
The accident comes as Gulf oil producers seek to increase output following recent Iranian attacks and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas exports.
Ras Tanura has previously come under attack during the recent Middle East conflict, with earlier drone strikes causing fires and temporary disruptions at the refinery.
Saudi authorities also reported that attacks in April affected production operations at major facilities in Ras Tanura, Jubail, Yanbu and Riyadh.
Aramco operates one of the region’s largest corporate aviation fleets, with more than 60 aircraft, including helicopters serving hundreds of heliports across Saudi Arabia.
