The body of former Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond was repatriated on a plane flying from North Macedonia to Aberdeen International Airport on Friday afternoon. Salmond was speaking at the Academy of National Diplomacy conference in south east Europe just minutes before he suffered a serious heart attack.

He led the Scottish National Party twice, guiding it from a fringe political group into a powerful electoral force in Britain.

Mr 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. Plans are being put in place for a private family funeral along with a more public memorial service.

Scottish former First Minister Alex Salmond has died. Salmond championed Scotland’s independence from the U.K.

The former MP and MSP, who led the country between 2007 and 2014 during the independence referendum, took ill while in North Macedonia.

The body of former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond was flown back to Scotland on a private jet Friday, six days after the politician died suddenly in North Macedonia.

Alex Salmond's coffin was met by his family and a piper when the plane carrying his body landed in Aberdeen. The former first minister's family, including his wife, Moira, and acting Alba Party leader,

Mr Salmond's wife Moira was sat inside a funeral car during the short ceremony at the airport. A small group of people with saltire flags had gathered near the terminal building ahead of the flight's arrival.