"A private plane of Qadhafi has crossed Greek airspace en route to Egypt," the ministry source told AFP, adding: "We do not know who is on board."

A Greek air force source said the plane was a Libyan Airlines Falcon 900 that normally carries VIPs, though the pilot denied that dignitaries were on board.

"The pilot tabled a flight plan from Tripoli to Cairo," the air force source said, adding: "The plane crossed southwest of the island of Crete around an hour ago. It should be landing in Cairo by now."