Saudi Aramco helicopter crash kills 14 nationals, state news agency says


FILE PHOTO: General view of Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo

June 28 (Reuters) - A ⁠helicopter belonging to Saudi oil giant ⁠Aramco crashed on Sunday in Ras ‌Tanura on Saudi Arabia's eastern coast on the Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz, killing 14 nationals, ​the state news agency ⁠reported, adding that the ⁠cause was unknown.

Aramco 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 state news agency added.

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

The incident ​took place at 6 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), 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.

(Reporting by ​Eman Abouhassira and Maha El DahanEditing by David Goodman and Philippa Fletcher)

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