Liam Payne’s return flight becomes most tracked plane in the world as devastated fans look on

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne’s body was flown back to the UK this morning following his tragic death in Argentina last month at the age of 31

Liam Payne'

The plane carrying Liam Payne’s body was tracked by fans

Liam Payne’s body has finally returned to the UK, weeks after his tragic death.

The former One Direction star died at the age of 31 last month following a fall from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His dad Geoff Payne flew out to the South American country as he waited weeks to be able to bring his son’s body home. The star had been in the country for a holiday, where he attended former bandmate Niall Horan’s concert with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy.

Liam tragically died on October 16 and tributes from heartbroken family, fans and celebrity fans have flooded in. Local authorities completed further toxicology and laboratory tests this week, meaning his body was returned to his family, as confirmed by public prosecutor Andrés Madrea.

Dad Geoff flew back to the UK with Liam’s body yesterday. They arrived at London Heathrow this morning at 7:49am. Fans were aware of the plane’s departure and devastatingly tracked the flight all the way to the UK. So many fans kept an eye on the flight that it meant it became the most tracked aircraft in the world.

British Airways Boeing 777-200 airplane

Liam’s body was flown back to the UK ( 
Image:
NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Respected Argentinian daily La Nacion reported that Liam’s father was personally informed in a recent meeting with prosecution chief Andres Madrea that he could return to the UK with Liam’s body two weeks after arriving in the South American country. It stated: “All the documents are ready for the former One Direction singer to return to his homeland so a funeral can take place there next week.

“When Geoff Payne reached Argentina on October 18 he was told the repatriation process could take between four and five days, but because of the circumstances surrounding his son’s death things took longer than expected.” The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Buenos Aires is still investigating the circumstances around the singer’s tragic passing.

Fans of the singer have already begun paying their respects outside St. Peter’s Collegiate Church in central Wolverhampton. They left flowers and sweet handwritten messages next to the Lady Wulfrun statue. Details of Liam’s funeral are yet to be made public, but it is believed to be taking place in his hometown of Wolverhampton.

A source told MailOnline : “Liam will have a very big send-off, quite probably at a large cathedral somewhere close to his heart. Liam was so loved by so many people, there will obviously be enormous demand and so the service will necessarily be a huge affair.” After details of his funeral emerged, fans all over social media urged others not to attend the funeral and respect his family’s privacy.

Liam’s funeral is reportedly likely to be private in order to give his friends and family the proper time to mourn the loss of the One Direction star. It’s said that his funeral will feature a “series of song tributes” as a testament to his love for music. His family reportedly wish to add in a special musical element into the service. There will be “a series of song tributes from some very big acts” at the farewell, a source claimed to Radar Online.