The former first minister of Scotland died on Saturday, at the age of 69, during a trip to Ohrid in North Macedonia. UK MPs had been among those calling for the Royal Air Force to help out with bringing his body back home.

Alex Salmond’s body is to be repatriated by a private charter plane, his family has revealed. The flight cost from North Macedonia to Aberdeen will be paid by a private individual. The former first minister died on Saturday from a heart attack shortly after he gave a speech in the Balkan country.

Mr MacAskill also expressed the Salmond family’s appreciation to the North Macedonian Government, for “expediting” the process of releasing Mr Salmond’s body and the Scottish and UK governments for their work in securing his repatriation.

Former first minister Alex Salmond, who died on Saturday, will be flown back to Scotland on a specially chartered plane, paid for by a private individual. STV News understands Mr Salmond’s body is expected to be flown into Aberdeen in the next few days, for a private family funeral.

Private individual pays for repatriation of Alex Salmond’s body - The former first minister died of a heart attack on Saturday in North Macedonia.

A private individual is paying for a charter flight to bring Alex Salmond’s body back to Scotland from North Macedonia. The former first minister died suddenly from a heart attack in the Balkan country on Saturday at the age of 69.

East Kilbride politicians have paid tribute to former First Minister Alex Salmond. The former MP and MSP died suddenly on Saturday at the age of 69. The Alba party leader became ill while attending an international conference in North Macedonia.

Alex Salmond’s body is set to be flown home by a private individual after calls for the RAF to conduct the repatriation were rejected. Friends and political allies of the former first minister had said that the military should return Mr Salmond to Scotland,