You're not the real McCoy (or James Kirk), BA tells Trekkie Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond found himself in a bizarre situation with airline staff after booking on to a flight under the name James Kirk - the captain of Star Trek's USS Enterprise.

The former Scottish first minister caused confusion when British Airways initially refused to let him board a flight at Heathrow under the sci-fi alias.

The Mail on Sunday reported that it took a series of phone calls for the senior politician to persuade the airline that he should be allowed on board.

Mr Salmond said he often travelled under a false name for security reasons and as a Trekkie - as fans of the show are known - he liked to use Kirk's name, partly as a joke but also because it was easy to remember.

It is understood the confusion at the airport only lasted for a couple of minutes before being resolved.

He told the Mail on Sunday: "It was all sorted out. I just wanted BA to 'beam me up, Scotty'."

But Mr Salmond indicated that in future he will be travelling under a different name.

He told the Press Association: "Now that my cover has been blown by the Mail on Sunday, I will choose another Star Trek character - but not Mr Spock because that would be illogical."

The incident took place over the summer when Mr Salmond tried to fly back to Scotland after a week at the Commons.

Mr Salmond has previously described himself as an "obsessive Trekkie" and the show's fan club made him a "Starfleet Officer" and gave him a "Membership of Distinction".