Asylum hearing for 8 Turkish military who fled to Greece

Turkish military personnel who were aboard a Blackhawk military helicopter are transferred to a prosecutor's office in the city of Alexandroupolis, northern Greece, Sunday July 17, 2016. A Blackhawk military helicopter with seven Turkish military personnel and one civilian landed in the Greek city, where the passengers requested asylum. While Turkey demanded their extradition, Greece said it would hand back the helicopter and consider the men's asylum requests. (Giannis Moιsiadis/InTime News via AP) GREECE OUT (The Associated Press)

A Turkish Blackhawk helicopter takes off from the airport of Alexandroupolis, northern Greece, Sunday, July 17, 2016. A Blackhawk military helicopter with seven Turkish military personnel and one civilian landed in the Greek city of Alexandroupolis, where the passengers requested asylum. While Turkey demanded their extradition, Greece said it would hand back the helicopter and consider the men's asylum requests. (Giannis Moιsiadis/InTime News via AP) (The Associated Press)

Eight Turkish military personnel who flew to Greece aboard a helicopter during an attempted coup in Turkey are appearing before immigration authorities for interviews on their applications for asylum.

The eight were being interviewed Tuesday near the northeastern 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. 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.