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.

Businessman Sir Tom Hunter has confirmed he paid for the chartered flight which will return Alex Salmond’s body to Scotland on Friday. The former first minister of Scotland died aged 69 after suffering a heart attack in the city of Ohrid, North Macedonia, on Saturday, where he was attending a conference.

The body of Alex Salmond, Scotland’s former first minister who died during a conference in North Macedonia, will soon be returned by special flight to Scotland.

Alex Salmond’s body will be returned from North Macedonia on a chartered plane paid for by an unnamed private individual.

ALEX Salmond’s body will be flown back to Scotland on a charter flight with support from a private citizen. The former first minister died on Saturday in North Macedonia and his family has been working on arrangements to bring his body home.

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.