Saudi Arabia   Middle East   Helicopter   Aviation Accidents and Incidents   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  

Saudi Aramco Leonardo AW139 helicopter crash near Ras Tanura kills all 14 on board; investigation launched

A Saudi Aramco-operated Leonardo AW139 helicopter crashed Sunday morning near Ras Tanura in eastern Saudi Arabia, killing all 14 passengers aboard, according to the Saudi Ministry of Energy and state media. Authorities say investigations are under way to determine the cause, as Aramco had restarted crude oil loadings at the Ras Tanura terminal Friday after a nearly four-month halt.

Discovered 2026-06-28T04:57:38.094200-07:00 | 2026-06-28T04:57:38.094200-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The crash involved a specific operator and aircraft type—Saudi Aramco’s Leonardo AW139—and resulted in 14 fatalities, prompting a safety investigation that can affect rotary-wing standards and operating procedures.
  • The incident occurred near Ras Tanura, a key oil terminal, linking aviation safety outcomes to continuity of energy-sector operations at a critical Gulf hub.
  • The reported restart of crude oil loadings at Ras Tanura on Friday provides operational timing context for stakeholders tracking risk management across offshore/industrial aviation and supply-chain activity.

Reported By

aeroxplorer.com meed.com AINonline Aviation Week helicoptersmagazine.com CNBC
Sources Tracked
17
First Seen
2026-06-28T04:57:38.094200-07:00
Latest Update
2026-06-29T15:11:19.544962-07:00
Coverage
Aviation

Sources

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