Prime Minister offers condolences after helicopter crash that kills 14 in Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed sadness over yesterday’s helicopter crash in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, which claimed the lives of 14 Saudi nationals, extending Pakistan’s condolences to the Saudi leadership and the bereaved families.

In a message on X, the Prime Minister said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter accident”.

Shehbaz also offered his condolences on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan, saying, “I extend our sincere condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the bereaved families and the brotherly people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Reaffirming Pakistan’s support, Shehbaz said “Pakistan stands in full solidarity with our Saudi brothers and sisters in this hour of grief.”

The helicopter crash killed 14 Saudi citizens on Sunday, the kingdom’s official news agency reported, adding that the plane belonged to state oil giant Aramco. THE Saudi Press Agencyciting an Energy Ministry official, reported that the helicopter had crashed in Ras Tanura, in the east of the country. “The accident claimed the lives of 14 passengers, all Saudi citizens,” the agency said, adding that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the accident.

According to Aramco, it operates more than 60 aircraft, including helicopters, and serves more than 300 heliports in Saudi Arabia, making it one of the largest corporate fleets in the region.

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The deadly accident comes as oil-rich Gulf countries seek to increase production following Iranian attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil and gas exports. The Gulf monarchy, however, did not indicate that the accident was linked in any way to a hostile attack.

During the war in the Middle East, Iranian attacks targeted energy facilities in the Gulf. Ras Tanura, home to one of the Middle East’s largest refineries with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day, is critical to Saudi Arabia’s energy sector. The refinery has been targeted several times, including in an Iranian drone attack early in the conflict, which caused a fire and forced a partial shutdown.

Riyadh said in April that the weeks-long attacks had disrupted several production operations at key facilities, with refineries in Ras Tanura as well as those in Jubail, Yanbu and Riyadh targeted.