14 dead in helicopter crash in Saudi Arabia:All victims were Saudi nationals; chopper belonged to oil giant Aramco

At least 14 people ​have been killed after ​a ​helicopter belonging to ⁠world’s largest oil company, Aramco crashed in Ras Tanura on the country’s eastern coast, west of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), all aboard the helicopter were Saudi citizens. However, the cause of the crash is not yet known. Authorities are investigating the matter. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy, in a statement, expressed condolences. The ministry said: “The Ministry of Energy extends its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the martyrs, praying to the Almighty—Glorified and Exalted is He—for His mercy and forgiveness upon them, and that He accept them among the martyrs.” Crash site and ongoing investigation The crash occurred in Ras Tanura, a key coastal area on Saudi Arabia’s eastern seaboard that is closely linked to the country’s oil infrastructure. The incident occurred around 6 am local time. Authorities said investigations are under way with the participation of relevant agencies to determine what led to the incident. Aramco is the world’s largest oil company Saudi Aramco is one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies. It is owned by the Saudi Arabian government. It was established in 1933 under an agreement with American companies. It came under complete Saudi government control in 1980. The company is headquartered in Dhahran. Aramco has one of the world’s largest oil reserves and produces millions of barrels of crude oil daily, making it a major supplier to the global energy market. Aramco resumed crude oil loadings on Friday at its Ras Tanura terminal in the Gulf after operations were halted for nearly four months. Saudi Arabia’s economy depends heavily on this company’s revenue. Aramco not only produces crude oil but also operates in refining, petrochemicals, and natural gas. It also controls the world’s largest conventional oil field, Gawar. In 2019, the company launched its IPO on the stock market, considered the largest IPO in history. In recent years, Aramco has been increasing investments in technologies such as renewable energy, hydrogen, and carbon capture. ​