By admin The body of former first minister Alex Salmond was flown out of North Macedonia on a private charter flight almost a week after his death.
A pre-departure ceremony for a private flight was held at Ohrid airport and was personally paid for by Scottish businessman Sir Tom Hunter.
A military guard from North Macedonia carried Salmond’s coffin, draped in Saltire, onto the plane.
It left the country at around 11.25am local time and is expected to land at Aberdeen Airport on Friday around 2pm BST.
Mr Salmond’s family, along with acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill, will travel to Aberdeen Airport to collect the coffin, which will then be taken by hearse to the family home.
The plane left North Macedonia almost a week after the former first minister suffered a massive heart attack while attending a youth cultural and diplomatic event in Ohrid.
STV NewsOhrid Airport, North Macedonia STV News
Salmond was having lunch with other delegates, including Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, chairwoman of the Alba party, when he suddenly slumped in his chair.
Emergency services were called and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed, but Mr Salmond died.
Veteran Tory David Davis, a friend of the Alba party leader, called on the RAF to step in to repatriate Salmond’s body, and discussions followed between the Scottish and British governments.
However, on Wednesday, Sir Tom personally financed the repatriation of Mr Salmond’s body to Scotland.
Sir Tom said: “While he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond dedicated his life to Scotland and the Scottish nation and as such he and, importantly, his family, deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return home to his birth “
The former First Minister’s passing will be marked with a private family funeral in the coming days.
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