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Saudi Aramco Helicopter Crash Kills 14, Cause Unknown

6/28/2026

Summary

Aramco Helicopter Crash

A Saudi Aramco helicopter crashed in Ras Tanura at about 6 a.m. Sunday, killing 14 Saudi nationals.
Officials said the cause is unknown and an investigation with relevant authorities is under way.
Saudi authorities said the crash was not linked to recent U.S.–Iran attacks.
Aramco resumed crude-oil loading at Ras Tanura on Friday after a nearly four-month halt caused by U.S.–Iran conflict disruptions and Strait of Hormuz blockades.

Summary

Aramco Crash

An Aramco 2222.SE helicopter used for internal transport crashed, confirming the aircraft belonged to the Saudi Arabian Oil Company.
Aramco, headquartered in Dhahran, holds the world’s largest proven crude-oil reserves and operates Ras Tanura, the Middle East’s biggest refinery.
The company has been ranked the most profitable corporation worldwide in recent years.
Aramco’s recent surge in oil and gas output follows an interim U.S.–Iran agreement aimed at curbing regional conflict.

History

Historical Context

The Leonardo AW139 model has a troubled safety record, with 62 incidents worldwide and 56 fatalities recorded by August 2024, including the 2011 Petrobras crash in Brazil and a 2014 Haughey Air crash in the UK. The recent crash on approach to Ras Tanura Airport, killing 14 Saudi nationals, underscores ongoing aviation safety concerns for Saudi Aramco and Saudi authorities.

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Aramco Helicopter Crash

A Saudi Aramco helicopter crashed in Ras Tanura at about 6 a.m. Sunday, killing 14 Saudi nationals.
Officials said the cause is unknown and an investigation with relevant authorities is under way.
Saudi authorities said the crash was not linked to recent U.S.–Iran attacks.
Aramco resumed crude-oil loading at Ras Tanura on Friday after a nearly four-month halt caused by U.S.–Iran conflict disruptions and Strait of Hormuz blockades.

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