A Turkish military helicopter has landed in northern Greece where its crew has requested political asylum.

Local reports suggest the crew are part of the faction of the Turkish military that attempted to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government in a coup on Friday night.

Greece’s defence ministry has confirmed seven military personnel and one civilian landed in a Blackhawk military helicopter in Alexandroupoli and requested asylum.

Upon arrival the eight crew members were arrested for illegal entry to the country.

Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, has demanded their return.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency quotes the Turkish foreign minister as saying “we have demanded the immediate return of the eight treacherous officers who fled to Greece by helicopter”.

According to the Guardian, the crew removed all badges and insignia from their uniforms making it impossible to know their rank.

However, Turkey's Dogan news agency is reporting that two majors, a captain and five privates have requested asylum.

Violence between protesters and police in Turkey

It is understood to be the first time a Turkish military vehicle had landed in Greece seeking asylum in the country.

Greece will examine the request for political asylum on Saturday, two Greek government sources said.

But it is thought to be highly unlikely the men would be granted asylum in Greece.

The men are due to appear before a Greek prosecutor on Sunday, and the Blackhawk helicopter will be returned to Turkey immediately, a Greek government official said.

More than 161 people are dead and more than 1,000 wounded following the violent clashes in Turkey after a coup was launched to overthrow Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government.

In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Show all 17 1 /17 In pictures: Turkey coup attempt In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey Burak Kara/Getty Images In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016 Gokhan Tan/Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 REUTERS/Murad Sezer In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Brigde Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Pierre Crom/Twitter In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square AP In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People demonstrate in front of the Republic Monument at the Taksim Square in Istanbul Murad Sezer/Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup Reuters

A total of 1,563 military personnel have been detained across the country after the Turkish government and military forces loyal to the president cracked down on the attempted coup.