Liam Payne's body returns to UK as devastated fans track most watched plane in world

Weeks after his tragic passing, the body of former One Direction star Liam Payne has been returned to the UK. Payne, aged 31, met with a fatal accident last month when he fell from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

His father, Geoff Payne, has faced an agonising wait in the South American nation before he could repatriate his son's remains. The celebrity had been on holiday in Argentina and was there to see an old bandmate's concert with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy when the incident occurred on October 16.

The loss has seen an outpouring of grief from family, fans, and stars alike. After local authorities concluded additional toxicology and lab tests this week, public prosecutor Andrés Madrea confirmed the body's release to Liam's family.

Geoff Payne arrived back on British soil with his son’s body, touching down at London Heathrow at 7:49am on Wednesday, November 6.

Fans, having been alerted to the flight's departure, tracked its progress with such intensity that it became the most monitored aircraft worldwide. Argentine newspaper La Nacion reported that Geoff Payne received confirmation from chief prosecutor Andres Madrea during a recent meeting that they were cleared to return to Britain two weeks after their arrival in Argentina, ensuring that Liam's body would be home for the funeral slated for next week, reports the Mirror.

The paper detailed: "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.

The funeral of One Direction star, Liam, is expected to be a private affair, allowing his loved ones the necessary time to grieve. It's understood that the service will include a "series of song tributes", reflecting his passion for music.

His family reportedly plan to incorporate a unique musical component into the ceremony. A source told Radar Online that there will be "a series of song tributes from some very big acts" at the farewell.