Riyadh: A helicopter belonging to the state-owned Saudi oil giant, Aramco, crashed in Ras Tanura on Sunday, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), citing the Ministry of Energy.
Saudi media reported that rescue teams rushed to the site immediately following the incident to complete emergency operations.
Investigating agencies have launched a probe to determine the cause of the crash.
Historically Deadly Helicopter Crashes
While helicopters are vital for industrial, military, and rescue operations, their complex aerodynamics and reliance on single-rotor mechanics mean that mechanical failures or adverse weather can lead to catastrophic accidents.
Over the decades, several aviation disasters have highlighted the inherent risks associated with rotary-wing aircraft.
One of the deadliest helicopter accidents in history occurred on August 19, 2002, when a Russian military Mil Mi-26 transport helicopter was hit by a Chechen rebel missile and crashed into a minefield near Khankala.
The overloaded aircraft caught fire and crashed, resulting in the tragic deaths of 127 Russian service members.
In the civilian and commercial sector, the North Sea has historically been a perilous environment for helicopter transits servicing offshore oil rigs.
On November 6, 1986, a Boeing Vertol 234 Commercial Chinook, operated by British International Helicopters, crashed into the sea near the Shetland Islands while returning from the Brent oilfield.
A catastrophic gearbox failure caused the twin rotors to collide, killing 45 people on board.
