THE body of former First Minister Alex Salmond has begun its final journey back to Scotland.
Former SNP MP and Alba Party chairwoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh was among those who placed a saltire on top of the coffin before it was taken to the plane, which was paid for by businessman Sir Tom Hunter.
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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 flight is due to take off shortly.
It emerged on Thursday that businessman Sir Tom Hunter paid for a chartered flight to repatriate the body of the Alba Party leader from North Macedonia, where he died of a heart attack on Saturday.
The former first minister’s family, along with Alba Party acting leader Kenny MacAskill, will be there to receive the coffin, which will be taken by hearse to the family home.
Mr Salmond died aged 69 after suffering a heart attack in the city of Ohrid, where he was attending a conference.
Tory MP Sir David Davis, a friend of the former SNP leader, had pushed for the RAF to bring his body back.
Mr Salmond died almost a week ago in Ohrid, North Macedonia.
Attendees claimed he fell into someone’s arms as he ate lunch at the summit.
For the past week talks have been ongoing to have him repatriated.
The Scottish Government was involved. A special RAF flight was called for but was ruled out.
Billionaire Sir Tom Hunter eventually stepped in and paid for a special charter to bring Mr Salmond home. He paid around £24,000 for the plane.
The tycoon said: “Whilst he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to the Scottish people.
“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.”
The Embraer Legacy arrived in Ohrid on Thursday afternoon and set off about 11am on Friday.
It landed in Aberdeen close to 1.45pm.
Members of Aye Aberdeen planned to be part of the procession with their cars all decked out in saltires.
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Mr Salmond was driven to Fraserburgh, the town he served for many years as an MP for Banff and Buchan.
It’s understood his family are now planning a private funeral service, with a larger public ceremony to follow.
