Alex Salmond’s coffin has been draped in a saltire and taken off on the flight which will return him home to Scotland. The flight took off from Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport – just after 10.20am UK time.
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.
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.
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 Salmond’s body was loaded onto the flight. The flight has taken off and will arrive in Aberdeen in the afternoon. It was paid for by businessman Sir Tom Hunter. This came after days of diplomatic wrangling.
The former first minister died suddenly on Saturday after suffering from a heart attack in North Macedonia. Friends and political allies of Salmond had called for the RAF to fly his body home to the north-east of Scotland, but the Record understands this was rejected as he was a private citizen at the time of his death.
The private plane charter was organised by the Alba Party with assistance by Holyrood officials, with Hunter covering costs.
Salmond’s family are understood to be planning a private funeral for the former SNP leader, with a larger public memorial service to take place later in the year.
Hunter 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.”
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