SIR Tom Hunter has been revealed as the private donor paying to repatriate the body of Alex Salmond.
The former first minister died from a heart attack in North Macedonia on Saturday.
The Alba Party confirmed that a private donor was covering the costs of the repatriation, which The Times revealed was Sir Tom Hunter.
The business said he was covering the cost because Salmond and his family deserved the "dignity" of a private return home to Scotland.
In a statement released to the media, it was also made clear that the flight was paid for personally by Hunter, and not through his philanthropic foundation.
READ MORE: Alex Salmond's body to be flown home to Scotland with cortege planned
“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,” Hunter said.
“Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with his family at this time.”
Following the announcement of Salmond's death on Saturday, Hunter shared a memory on X/Twitter of sitting beside Salmond at the Scottish Business Awards.
"RIP @AlexSalmond," he said.
The flight will arrive to Scotland on Friday, with members of Salmond's family and the acting leader of the Alba Party, Kenny MacAskill, set to meet it in Aberdeen.
A statement from Alba said: "The private plane which has been chartered to bring Alex Salmond home will leave Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport (OHD) at an estimated time of departure of 11:00 hrs (North Macedonia) landing in Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) at an expected time of arrival of 13:45 hrs.
"The carrier is Airline AIR X. The aircraft is an Embraer Legacy 600. The Aircraft registration is 9H-JPC. The Flight number: AXY4769."
It is understood STV will provide broadcast footage of the plane's arrival and of the coffin as it comes off the plane.
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