A Syrian warplane crashed northeast of Damascus on Friday and opposition fighters captured and killed its pilot, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Friday.

The jet was brought down by heavy fire, the SOHR added.

The Jaish al-Islam, or Army of Islam, a rebel group operating east of Damascus, said it shot down the plane and published an interview with the pilot who said he has been a Syrian army pilot for the past 16 years. 

Meanwhile, Syrian state media said the crash was due to a technical fault and the pilot had ejected.

Source: MENA