The body of the former first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, has arrived in Scotland. 

Members of Salmond's family, including his wife Moira and acting Alba leader Kenny MacAskill gathered at the airport as Salmond's coffin was lifted off the plane at Aberdeen Airport. 

(Image: Image by Jane Barlow/PA Wire) (Image: By Jane Barlow/PA)

The former Alba leader died of a heart attack on Saturday afternoon in the North Macedonia lake-resort town of Ohrid, where he was attending a conference. He was 69 years old. 

The flight took off from North Macedonia at 11am, and 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.

(Image: Image by Jane Barlow/PA Wire) (Image: Image by Jane Barlow/PA Wire) A piper joined members of Salmond’s family and MacAskill after the charter plane, paid for by Sir Tom Hunter, arrived in Aberdeen 1.55pm today. 

The piper played Freedom Come All Ye as he was received by his family.

Salmond’s body, which was in a Saltire-draped coffin, has now been transferred from the flight onto a hearse.

(Image: Image by Jane Barlow/PA Wire) The coffin was seen leaving the Airport and is now on its way to Aberdeenshire. Salmond’s family entered a car and followed the hearse to his family home.

Plans are being put in place for a private funeral and more public memorial service.

Sir Tom 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.”

(Image: Image by Jane Barlow/PA Wire) Kenny MacAskill, who stepped in after Mr Salmond’s death to take over as the acting leader of the Alba Party, added: “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.”

(Image: Image by Jane Barlow/PA Wire) While Alba Party chairwoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh thanked the North Macedonian Government and Sir Tom Hunter for their “kindness, generosity and respect."

In a post on X, Ms Ahmed-Sheikh said: “Scotland’s son, hero and true patriot, Alex Salmond, is on his way home.

“I would like to express eternal gratitude to the North Macedonian Government and Sir Tom Hunter ⁩for their kindness, generosity and respect.

“The dream will never die.”