Thousands of people welcomed President Tayyip Erdogan on early Saturday (July 16) upon his arrival at Istanbul's Ataturk airport after he called on his supporters to take to the streets to show their solidarity against an attempted military coup.

Footage shot by the private Dogan news agency showed people chanting slogans and waving flags as they greeted Erdogan.

Hours before his arrival, a Reuters witness heard a loud explosion at Ataturk Airport.

Television images showed tanks parked in front, with state-run Anadolu Agency reporting at least one person was wounded.

Scores of people gathered in Istanbul and capital city Ankara to show their support for the elected government.

Airlines diverted flights en route to Turkey and cancelled departures from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport as the overthrow attempt unfolded.

More than 160 people were killed, including many civilians, after a faction of the armed forces tried to seize power using tanks and attack helicopters.

Erdogan accused the coup plotters of trying to kill him and launched a purge of the armed forces, which last used force to stage a successful coup more than 30 years ago.