Alex Salmond’s coffin was draped in a Saltire ahead of the plane bringing him home to Scotland taking off. Mr Salmond died on Saturday from a heart attack while speaking at a conference in the city of Ohrid in the country’s south west.

The plane carrying the body of the former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond has taken off from North Macedonia, bound for Aberdeen. Mr Salmond died on Saturday from a heart attack while speaking at a conference in the city of Ohrid in the country’s south west.

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

The body of Alex Salmond, Scotland's former first minister, has arrived back in Scotland on a plane which landed at Aberdeen Airport. His coffin, flown from North Macedonia, was greeted by members of his family, new Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill and a lone piper.

Alex Salmond served as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014 and was leader of the Scottish National Party on two occasions.

Preparations are under way to send Alex Salmond's body home to Aberdeen. His coffin will be draped in a Saltire and put on a chartered flight from Ohrid Airport in North Macedonia. The private plane, paid for by Scottish businessman and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, is scheduled to depart at 10:00 BST land at Aberdeen Airport by 14:00 BST.

Mr Salmond’s body will return 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 a private family funeral along with a more public memorial service.

A plane carrying Alex Salmond's body has left North Macedonia and is being flown back to Scotland. The former first minister's coffin was draped in a Saltire by Alba party colleag