Scottish billionaire Sir Tom Hunter is the mystery private donor who paid to repatriate Alex Salmond’s body.
The former first minister died suddenly on Saturday after suffering from a heart attack in North Macedonia.
Hunter said Salmond “devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people” so “deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth.”
Hunter said: “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.”
The jet flight was paid for personally by Sir Tom and not by his charity The Hunter Foundation. Salmond’s body will be flown back to Scotland on Friday. The flight is due to take off at about 11am on Friday, landing in Aberdeen at about 1.45pm.
The former first minister’s family, along with Alba Party acting leader Kenny MacAskill, will be there to receive the coffin, which will then be taken by hearse to the family home.
Salmond died aged 69 after suffering a heart attack in the city of Ohrid on Saturday, where he was attending a conference.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here