'On home soil': Family, fans greet plane carrying Shane Warne's body
There were emotional scenes overnight as family, loves ones and fans assembled to meet the private charter flight carrying the body of cricket legend Shane Warne home to Melbourne.
A crowd assembled at Essendon Airport, with the 52-year-old's mother, Brigette, holding a single white rose as her son's casket touched down in his beloved Melbourne.
She was supported by her 22-year-old grandson, Jackson.
The arrival came almost a week after his shock death in Thailand.
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The private charter flight carrying the body of cricket legend Shane Warne touched down in Melbourne. 9News
Thai police escorted the ambulance carrying his casket from the hospital to the airport in Bangkok.
The casket was seen covered in an Australian flag.
Fans from all over Melbourne also gathered at the airport waiting for the repatriation flight to touchdown.
"It was good to see the plane come in... knowing that he was on home soil where he belongs," one fan told 9News.
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Family and loved ones of Shane Warne were on hand to meet the private plane carrying his body as it touched down at Essendon Airport. 9News
"I feel sorry for the family and all his friends," fan Julie Adano said.
"It was a shock to everybody. It was sad when the actual plane was coming in, knowing that someone who is such a legend and so young wasn't here - but it was good to see the plane come in, knowing he is on home soil where he belongs.
"Rest in peace, Shane."
Following an autopsy earlier this week, Thai authorities confirmed Warne had died of natural causes, following a suspected heart attack at a holiday villa on the island of Koh Samui last Friday.
A state funeral will be held to farewell the sporting great at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 30.
It is likely to be held at twilight to allow more people to attend.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed that as many people as possible would be allowed to attend.
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"There will be no limits on crowds and that sort of stuff," he said.
"It will be a very big event, it will be a celebration of his life as it should be."
Members of his family and the public were at Essendon Airport to pay their respect to the 52-year-old. Getty
It is expected several of Warne's celebrity mates will be in attendance, including Coldplay's Chris Martin and singer Ed Sheeran.
Warne's family and friends will farewell him at a private funeral next week.
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