As many as 14 people were killed after a helicopter operated by Saudi Aramco crashed in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, according to Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry.
“Crash of a helicopter affiliated
with Saudi Aramco and the martyrdom of all its passengers, numbering (14),” the Saudi Energy Ministry wrote in a post on X.
وزارة الطاقة: سقوط طائرة مروحية تابعة لشركة أرامكو السعودية واستشهاد جميع ركابها وعددهم (14).https://t.co/GIfK4xYoZ3#واس
— واس العام (@SPAregions) June 28, 2026
Authorities confirmed there were no survivors and said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash. The identity of the victims and the circumstances surrounding the accident have not yet been disclosed.
All Victims Were Saudi Nationals
The helicopter crashed at around 6 am (local time) on Sunday, according to state media. The Ministry said all the victims were Saudi nationals and confirmed that an investigation involving the relevant authorities has been launched to determine the cause of the crash. The Ministry expressed its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, the Saudi Press Agency said.
The helicopter crashed on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast, west of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported. The reason behind the crash remains unknown. Ras Tanura houses the Middle East’s largest oil refinery, which is operated by Saudi Aramco.
Aramco had resumed crude oil loading operations at its Ras Tanura terminal in the Gulf on Friday after a suspension that lasted nearly four months. “Investigations are under way, with the participation of relevant authorities, to determine the causes of the helicopter crash,” the state news agency added.
Plane Crashes In France
Earlier in the day, a civilian aircraft crashed in the eastern French town of Tomblaine, leaving 11 people dead, local authorities said. The aircraft was carrying 11 people, including the pilot, according to Yves Seguy, the prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department.
