Furious passengers clashed with cops at a major airport after a lengthy flight delay left them stranded.
Footage showed officers wrestling with a man on the floor as the raging travellers shouted during the confrontation at a check-in area.
The row erupted after the group waiting for a flight to China became increasingly frustrated by disruption to their journey.
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The airline was said to have offered accommodation to those affected, as well as meals and alternative travel arrangements, but the measures apparently failed to calm them.
Passengers shouted in Mandarin as airport staff struggled to manage the growing disturbance.
Police then moved in to restrain one man identified as one of the main troublemakers before he was led away in handcuffs.
Some of those involved were reportedly unhappy with the officers’ response and sought help from Chinese diplomatic officials.
The confrontation took place at Velana International Airport, the main international gateway to the Maldives, on 14 October.
The travellers had been due to fly to Chengdu, China, as reported by Need To Know.
Flight-tracking information indicated that Maldivian flight Q2 340 experienced a delay of around 16 hours before departing.
The disruption appears to have fuelled the passengers’ anger, although the precise sequence of events leading to the physical confrontation remains unclear.
The police and the airline have not yet publicly confirmed the full circumstances of the altercation.
It also remains unclear how many people were involved, whether anyone was injured or whether formal charges would be brought against any of the passengers.
The Maldives is a popular holiday destination in the Indian Ocean, where international visitors often rely on flights and boat transfers to travel between islands.
The Chinese embassy has previously warned travellers to remain calm and follow local laws during travel disruption.
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