Alex Salmond‘s body was today repatriated to Scotland in a coffin draped in the Saltire.
The separatist Alba Party leader, who led the losing Yes campaign in the 2014 independence referendum, died suddenly from a heart attack in North Macedonia at the weekend.
The repatriation flight, which was chartered by an unnamed private individual, took off from Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport just after 10.20am UK time.
Mr Salmond’s body returned to the north east of Scotland, close to his home in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, and the seats he represented at both Westminster and Holyrood, this afternoon.
Plans are being put in place for for a private family funeral along with a more public memorial service.
The coffin of former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond, draped in a Saltire, is loaded into a hearse at Aberdeen Airport
Moira Salmond looks on as the coffin of her husband, former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond, draped in a Saltire, is loaded into a hearse at Aberdeen Airport
Members of the family and acting Alba leader Kenny MacAskill (left) greet the coffin of former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond
The hearse carrying the coffin of former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond departs from Aberdeen Airport
Mr Salmond’s family had gathered at Aberdeen Airport to wait for his body to arrive and be transferred into a hearse.
The Saltire-draped coffin will now be taken to Mr Salmond’s family home in Aberdeenshire.
The former first minister’s family, including his wife Moira, followed in a funeral car behind him as the hearse left the airport.
Former SNP MP and Alba Party chairwoman, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, was among those who placed the flag on top of the coffin before it was taken to the plane in North Macedonia, which was paid for by businessman Sir Tom Hunter.
Mr Salmond’s body was carried by six members of the North Macedonian military to the flight, along a red carpet which was flanked by eight other soldiers standing at attention, to the sound of a trumpet.
The soldiers, flight and ground crew observed a moment’s silence before Mr Salmond’s body was loaded onto the flight.
The Salmond family were in talks with the UK and Scottish Governments about the best way to repatriate the former SNP leader’s body.
His friend and Tory MP, Sir David Davis, had pushed for the RAF to be used to bring his body back.
But the decision was taken, instead, to use a private charter paid for by Sir Tom.
Alex Salmond ‘s coffin was draped in a Scottish flag ahead of the plane repatriating his body taking off
Former SNP MP and Alba Party chairwoman, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (pictured left), was among those who placed the flag on top of the coffin
Alex Salmond at the conference in North Macedonia, shortly before his death
The separatist Alba Party leader, who led the losing Yes campaign in the 2014 independence referendum, died suddenly from a heart attack in North Macedonia at the weekend.
The flags outside the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, Edinburgh, fly at half mast following the death of Alex Salmond.
Alex Salmond and his wife Moira had lived in Strichen in Aberdeenshire for decades
The businessman said on Thursday: ‘Whilst he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people and, as such, he – and importantly his family – deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth.
‘Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with his family at this time.
‘To be clear, I remain resolutely apolitical.’
Kenny MacAskill, who stepped in after Mr Salmond’s death to take over as the acting leader of the Alba Party, said: ‘The family are incredibly grateful for the support which is being provided by a private citizen to charter a private plane to allow Alex’s body to come home to Scotland.
‘It brings a great deal of comfort to Moira and other members of the family to know that he will soon be home with them.
‘The family have asked that their privacy be respected at this time and will be making an announcement in due course about the funeral arrangements and a memorial service to honour the life of Alex Salmond.’
The 69-year-old had made a speech at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in the city of Ohrid before collapsing at lunch in a crowded room.
Mr Salmond had led the SNP during the 1990s and then again from 2004 to 2014.
The body of the former first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, will be flown into Scotland later today
Alba and Mr Salmond’s first, the ex-Tory leader David Davis, urged the Foreign Office to allow the ‘appropriate means’ of repatriating him.
Mr Salmond’s funeral will be a small, private service attended by close friends and family
He oversaw a surge in SNP support from a minor party to the one that has governed Scotland since 2007.
He secured the deal with David Cameron on the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 in which 55 per cent of the public voted to remain.
However, Mr Salmond resigned after the plebiscite and was succeeded by Nicola Sturgeon.
The former first minister had a bitter falling out with Ms Sturgeon and quit the SNP in 2018 following allegations of sexual offences against several women.
He would later be cleared in the High Court of all offences and would accuse figures in the Scottish government and SNP of a plot against him, which they denied.
Tributes were paid to the former SNP leader in the House of Commons on Wednesday, with the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer describing him as a ‘monumental figure in Scottish and UK politics’, who left a ‘lasting legacy’.
Both Tory leader Rishi Sunak and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey also paid tribute.