At least 14 people were killed after a helicopter belonging to Saudi Arabian oil major Aramco crashed on Sunday in Ras Tanura on the country's eastern coast, west of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Saudi Arabian state's new agency, the cause of the incident was unknown. The incident was reported after Aramco had resumed crude oil loadings on Friday at its Ras Turan terminal in the Gulf after a halt for nearly four months due to the war between the US, Israel and Iran.
The Saudi state news agency stated, "Investigations are underway, with the participation â of relevant authorities, to determine the causes of the helicopter crash".
Operated by Aramco, the Ras Tanura facility is home to the largest refinery in the West Asia region. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the crash took place at around 6:00 AM on Sunday, and all those killed were Saudi nationals.
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The Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia expressed grief and offered condolences to the families of those killed in the crash.
In a statement carried by the SPA, the ministry said, "The Ministry of Energy extends its deepest condolences and sincere sympathies to the families of the deceased, praying that Almighty God grants them mercy and forgiveness and accepts them among the martyrs. Indeed, we belong to God, and to Him we shall return."
11 killed in plance crash in France
The incident came as another similar incident took place thousands of kilometres away in France, where 11 people lost their lives after a civilian aircraft, carrying a group of skydivers, crashed on Sunday, in Tomblaine, near Nancy.
The victims include five instructors, a pilot and five students, according to French outlet Le Parisien. The rescue operation was soon launched after the crash.