Body of former First Minister Alex Salmond arrives in Scotland
The body of Alex Salmond arrives back in Scotland, ITV News reporter Cari Davies reports
The body of the former First Minister Alex Salmond has landed at Aberdeen airport in Scotland.
Mr Salmond died aged 69 last week after suffering a heart attack in the North Macedonian city of Ohrid, where he was attending a conference.
The flight took off at 11am and landed in Aberdeen around 2pm local time on Friday.
Mr Salmond's family and acting Alba Party leader, Kenny MacAskill met the coffin as it was taken off the plane and driven to the family home in Strichen in a hearse.
Plans are being put in place for for a private family funeral along with a more public memorial service.
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The coffin was draped in a saltire and was accrued by six members of the North Macedonian military onto 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.
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.
The Alba Party, which Mr Salmond formed in 2021 and which he led until his death, confirmed on Wednesday that businessman Sir Tom Hunter had stepped in to pay for a chartered flight.
Sir Tom 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.”
ITV News' Cari Davies reports from Aberdeen ahead of the arrival of a plane carrying the body of Alex Salmond.
Mr 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.”
A Downing Street spokeswoman urged people to respect the family’s calls for privacy and said: “The Prime Minister’s thoughts are with his friends and family today.”
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