A Saudi Aramco helicopter crashed near the eastern coastal city of Ras Tanura on Sunday, killing all 14 people on board in one of the deadliest aviation accidents involving the state-owned energy giant in recent years.

The helicopter went down at around 6:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) near Ras Tanura, west of the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports by Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), citing an official source from the Ministry of Energy, confirmed that all those killed were Saudi nationals. Authorities have launched an investigation involving relevant agencies to determine the cause and circumstances of the crash. The cause of the accident has not yet been established.

The Ministry of Energy extended its condolences to the families of the victims, while officials said further information regarding the passengers and the purpose of the flight would be released once available.

The tragedy comes just days after Saudi Aramco resumed crude oil loadings at its Ras Tanura export terminal, which had remained largely closed for nearly four months amid regional tensions linked to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Saudi Arabia has since stepped up oil exports as regional producers increase shipments under a temporary agreement aimed at easing the conflict.

Ras Tanura is one of Saudi Aramco's most strategically important facilities, serving as a key export hub for the world's largest oil exporter. While the crash has raised concerns, there is no immediate indication that it has affected operations at the terminal.

The accident marks one of the deadliest incidents involving Saudi Aramco aviation personnel in recent years, as investigators continue efforts to determine what caused the helicopter to go down.

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