Syria helicopter crashed after clipping airliner tail

DAMASCUS (AFP) - A Syrian military helicopter that went down outside the capital Damascus on Thursday crashed after an accident with a civilian aircraft, state television said.

"This morning's helicopter crash resulted from an accident in the air when the helicopter's rota clipped the tail of a Syrian Air plane carrying 200 passengers," the broadcaster said.

"The civil aircraft has landed and all 200 passengers are safe," it added, citing both air traffic controllers at Damascus airport and Syrian Air.

Earlier on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the helicopter had been downed by rebels following a series of explosions in the restive town of Douma, northeast of Damascus.