DAMMAM — Just 50 days before his wedding, Moath Al-Zahrani, one of the 14 Saudi Aramco employees who lost their lives in Sunday’s helicopter crash near Ras Tanura, was preparing to begin a new chapter of his life.
Wedding invitations had been sent to family and friends the night before the tragedy. The apartment where he and his bride-to-be planned to build their future together was nearly ready, with every detail carefully arranged.
Instead of gathering to celebrate his wedding, relatives, friends and colleagues gathered on Monday at Al Furqan Mosque in Dammam to perform funeral prayers for Al-Zahrani and 6 other victims of the crash.
Among those attending the prayers were the Emir of the Eastern Province, Prince Saud bin Nayef; the Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman; Saudi Aramco Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan; and the company’s President and CEO, Amin Nasser.
Speaking to Al Ekhbariya, Moath’s uncle, Samir Al-Bushairi, struggled to hold back tears as he remembered his nephew.
“Moath was preparing for his wedding. He was one of the finest young men in the family,” he said.
Al-Bushairi said the wedding invitations had been distributed only hours before the accident. He recalled how his nephew had been furnishing and organizing the apartment where he and his fiancée planned to start their married life.
Fighting back tears, Al-Bushairi described Al-Zahrani as a kind-hearted young man who always saw the good in others and dedicated himself to serving his country and its people.
“My sister loved him dearly,” he said. “His pictures fill her home.”
He concluded his remarks by praying for mercy upon his nephew and all those who lost their lives in the crash.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Energy said the Saudi Aramco helicopter crashed at around 6 a.m. on Sunday near Al-Juaimah in Ras Tanura, killing all 14 people on board. All of the victims were Saudi nationals.
The ministry said the relevant authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the accident and extended its deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs, praying that Allah grants them mercy and forgiveness.
In a separate statement, Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser mourned the victims, expressing profound sorrow over the tragedy and affirming that the company stands beside their families during this difficult time.
“With deep sadness and sorrow, Saudi Aramco mourns the martyrs who lost their lives in the company helicopter accident,” Nasser said.
Source: Saudi Gazette