Arab and regional leaders, governments and organizations have expressed condolences and solidarity with Saudi Arabia following the crash of a Saudi Aramco helicopter in Ras Tanura that killed all 14 people on board, according to reports carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
A statement issued by the Ministry of Energy said the helicopter crashed at around 6 a.m. local time on Sunday. All 14 passengers were Saudi citizens. The cause of the crash remains unknown and an investigation is underway.
Messages of condolence poured in from across the Arab world, with leaders and organizations expressing sympathy to King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi government and the families of the victims.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit conveyed his condolences and affirmed the organization’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia during what he described as a difficult time.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi also extended condolences to the Saudi leadership and people, saying the GCC stood with the Kingdom following the tragedy.
The Muslim World League (MWL) expressed deep sorrow over the incident, with Secretary-General Mohammed Al-Issa extending sympathies to the families of the victims and the Saudi people.
Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah sent cables of condolence to King Salman, while Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani sent similar messages.
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also called his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, to expres his sincere condolences and sympathy over the crash victims.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II also expressed his condolences to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the accident.
Governments across the region issued statements expressing solidarity with the Kingdom, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Mauritania and the State of Palestine.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), expressed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia following the tragedy.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said the kingdom stood firmly with Saudi Arabia and extended its condolences to the families of the victims.
The UAE’s Foreign Ministry also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and offered condolences over the loss of life, while Oman’s Foreign Ministry conveyed its sympathy to the Kingdom and the victims’ relatives.
Mauritania and the Palestinian Foreign Ministry likewise issued statements expressing condolences and support for Saudi Arabia.
The outpouring of sympathy highlighted the broad regional support for the Kingdom following one of the deadliest aviation incidents involving Saudi Aramco in recent years.
Saudi authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the victims or the circumstances surrounding the crash, saying investigations into the cause of the accident are continuing.