Yan Linkun
Chinese official Yan Linkun proceeds to destroy everything in sight upon missing his flight. (CCTV)

A Chinese official threw a tantrum in an airport terminal after missing his flight at Kunming Changshui international airport in Yunnan province.

The extraordinary CCTV footage shows the man, later identified as Yan Linkun, enraged when he finds that boarding has closed. As other passengers and officials watch from a distance, he tries to smash everything he can lay his hands on.

According to blog TheShanghaiist.com, Yan was with his wife and two children en route to Shenzhen. They had already missed one flight after dawdling over breakfast and were switched to a later flight - but missed that too.

After ranting at airport staff, Yan grabs a computer, plastic signs and other items and smashes them on the floor or at a wall. At one point he tears off part of a sign and tries to smash the glass doors that lead to the runway. Airport security staff stood by.

He was identified as a Communist party committee member for Shizong county in Yunnan. After the video went viral, Yan released a statement apologising to Wang Jinsheng, the airport's deputy manager.

"I failed to be a qualified political adviser as well as a good father. My irrational actions and rudeness have caused some losses to the airport as well as bad effects to the public, so I sincerely apologise. I am willing to compensate," he said.

Yan was suspended from his role as vice-chairman of the Guangdong Yunnan Mining Company. Further investigations are being conducted and he may yet face criminal charges.