Saudi Aramco helicopter crash kills 14: officials

Aramco sign
Fourteen people died after a helicopter belonging ‌to the oil firm Aramco crashed, officials say. -AP

A helicopter belonging ‌to Saudi oil giant Aramco has crashed in ‌Ras Tanura on Saudi Arabia's eastern coast on ‌the Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz, killing 14 citizens, the Saudi Ministry of Energy says.

Aramco, the world's largest oil company, had resumed ‌crude oil ‌loadings ⁠on Friday at its Ras Tanura terminal ​in the Gulf after they were halted for nearly four months.

"The relevant authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the ⁠crash," the statement added.

Aramco did not respond immediately to an ​emailed request for comment.

The ‌incident took place at 6am on Sunday, the state agency said, without providing further details.

Saudi Arabia, the world's ​biggest ​oil exporter, has ​joined a rush to move ‌cargoes after Middle East producers ramped up oil and gas output and exports ahead of an interim deal to halt the war between the ​United States and Iran.