Major clashes took place between police and locals three days earlier at Kudahuvadhoo, Dhaalu as a patient was unable to travel to Male’ through Manta Air for further care.
Heavy public anger was directed at Manta Air during the protests however, the carrier's ATR aircraft are not fitted with medical stretcher hence they would not be able to carry any medical patient in need of travel with a stretcher.
Currently national airline Maldivian and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) land aircraft only has the capability to carry patients with a medical stretcher.
Manta Air is the sole scheduled operator to Dhaalu Airport however if required, medical charter flights to Dhaalu can be operated by national carrier Maldivian through Aasandha or even through private charters.
As per Transport Ministry, private carriers Villa Air and Manta Air have since been instructed by Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA) to provide medical stretcher service within the next three months.