More than a dozen Turkish navy ships are reportedly still at sea and remain unaccounted for following the botched military coup.

The commander of the Turkish navy Admiral Veysel Kosele also remains missing, having been out of contact since Friday evening.

It is unclear if he was part of the coup attempt or if he is being held against his will after local media reports said he was tricked into boarding one of the missing ships after being told there was a terrorist attack.

More than a dozen Turkish navy ships are reportedly still at sea and remain unaccounted for following the botched military coup (file picture)

According to the Times, the 14 missing ships were on active duty in either the Aegean or Black Sea on Friday.

They have failed to return to their ports even though they are likely to be traceable through radar on satellite.

It has prompted speculation that the ships may be on their way to Greek ports where the sailors will attempt to seek asylum.

The Turkish government refused to comment on the but told the newspaper: 'We assess that there are sleeper cells that might try to hijack helicopters or engage in other violent acts against peaceful demonstrators and government buildings.'

Meanwhile eight other military personnel who flew a helicopter to Greece amid the coup have tried to claim asylum in the country.

Today they will appear before immigration authorities for interviews on their applications.

Eight other military personnel who flew a helicopter to Greece amid the coup have tried to claim asylum in the country. One is pictured being led into a court in the Greek city of Alexandroupolis

The eight were being interviewed today near the north-eastern city of Alexandroupolis.

One of their lawyers has said they deny involvement in Friday's attempted coup in Turkey, saying the helicopter had been used to transport wounded and had come under fire from police, at which point they fled fearing for their lives.

Turkey is seeking their return and Greece has said their asylum applications must be examined under international law, but the fact that they are accused of participating in a coup would be taken into account.

The eight face trial on Thursday for illegal entry into Greece.

Meanwhile the former Turkish air force chief Akin Ozturk has confessed to prosecutors his role in plotting the coup that attempted to topple the government over the weekend, the state-run Anadolu Agency reports.

General Ozturk was quoted as having told interrogators that he 'acted with intention to stage a coup'.

Former Turkish air force chief Akin Ozturk, centre, has confessed to prosecutors his role in plotting the coup that attempted to topple the government

General Ozturk was quoted as having told interrogators that he 'acted with intention to stage a coup'

Earlier today officials accused of masterminding the uprising, including Ozturk, were paraded on camera with their hands bound and ordered to give their name and rank before being taken to be interrogated.

Photographs appeared to show several injuries to Gen Ozturk's head and upper body.

More than 200 people were killed after a faction in the military launched the coup attempt on Friday night, sealing off a bridge across the Bosphorus, trying to capture Istanbul's main airport and sending tanks to parliament in Ankara.

General Ozturk had earlier denied any involvement in the coup attempt and insisted he worked to stop it.

Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan faced down the coup bid late on Friday by elements in the military disgruntled with his 13-year rule.