A helicopter operated by state oil giant Saudi Aramco crashed in the eastern coastal city of Ras Tanura at 6 a.m. local time on Sunday, killing all 14 people on board, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing an official at the energy ministry. All of the victims were Saudi citizens, the ministry confirmed, extending condolences to their families.

The crash occurred at one of the kingdom’s most critical energy infrastructure sites, which houses the Middle East’s largest refinery and a major crude export terminal. Just two days earlier, on Friday, Aramco had resumed oil loadings at Ras Tanura after a nearly four-month suspension linked to regional hostilities, according to shipping data cited by international news agencies. Saudi authorities have not indicated any connection between the helicopter accident and recent military activity in the region, though Iranian forces had targeted Ras Tanura and other oil facilities during the conflict.

An investigation has begun, with the participation of relevant authorities, to determine the cause of the crash, SPA added. No further details about the flight’s purpose or the victims’ identities have been released. Aramco did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company operates one of the largest corporate aviation fleets in the region, with more than 60 aircraft serving over 300 heliports across Saudi Arabia.

The incident comes as Gulf producers rush to increase oil and gas exports following an interim deal to halt the war between the United States and Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint, recently reopened after months of disruption. At this stage, investigators have not offered any preliminary findings, and the probe remains ongoing.