A true patriot is now home

Saltire draped over coffin ahead of flight | Family and Alba colleagues await on tarmac

- ANDREW QUINN

ALEX Salmond's body was brought home to Scotland yesterday from North Macedonia, his coffin draped in a Saltire.

The former first minister's family and friends waited on the tarmac under grey skies at Aberdeen Airport for his return.

Salmond died last Saturday from a heart attack while speaking at a conference in the North Macedonian city of Ohrid.

Scots billionaire Sir Tom Hunter paid for a private plane to bring him home.

Before he left North Macedonia, Salmond's coffin was carried to the aircraft by six members of the nation's military along a red carpet flanked by eight other soldiers standing to attention to the sound of a trumpet.

Former SNP MP and Alba Party chairwoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, dressed in black, then draped a Saltire over the casket.

She thanked the North Macedonian government and Hunter for its "kindness, generosity and respect".

In a post on X, AhmedSheikh said: "Scotland's son, hero and true patriot, Alex Salmond, is on his way home.

"I would like to express eternal gratitude to @MFA_ MKD and @SirTomHunter for their kindness, generosity and respect. The dream will never die." The soldiers, flight and ground crew observed a moment's silence before Salmond's body was loaded on to the aircraft.

The flight left Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport just after 10.20am UK time for the three-and-a-half hour flight to Aberdeen.

His family, including wife Moira, and acting Alba leader Kenny MacAskill greeted the coffin after it arrived just before 2pm.