Aloula Aviation, the wholly owned aviation subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, has operated the Leonardo AW139 since 2008 as the backbone of its offshore helicopter fleet. Today, the company operates 27 AW139s supporting personnel transport, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and other mission-critical operations serving Saudi Aramco's oil and gas facilities across the Arabian Gulf. In 2025, the fleet surpassed 300,000 cumulative flight hours, reflecting its extensive operational use.
On 28 June 2026, one AW139 was involved in a fatal accident near Ras Tanura while operating an offshore transport mission, resulting in the loss of all 14 people on board. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
On 28 June 2026, one AW139 was involved in a fatal accident near Ras Tanura while operating an offshore transport mission, resulting in the loss of all 14 people on board. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
