A plane leaving Queenstown Airport that appeared to be experiencing engine trouble during take-off has safely landed at Invercargill Airport this evening (June 17).

Members of the public reported seeing flames coming from one of the engines and heard loud bangs, as Virgin VA148 bound for Melbourne took off from Queenstown Airport at 5.59pm.

Queenstown Airport said the flight experienced an "issue" just after take-off and was diverted to Invercargill.

Stuff is reporting there are 73 people aboard the 737 plane.

Shotover Country resident Shayne Galloway, in a social media post, said: "Sounded like it was coming apart over our house. One engine was throwing flames and sputtering out."

"The information we can share at this stage is that Virgin Australia flight VA 148 departed Queenstown Airport at 5.59pm, bound for Melbourne," Queenstown Airport spokesperson Sara Irvine said.

"It experienced an issue just after take-off and has been diverted to Invercargill Airport."

"We will share another update when we have more information."

The Flight Radar sky map shows the route the plane took to Invercargill.

Queenstown Airport posted on X (formerly Twitter) at 6.48pm that the flight has been diverted to Invercargill.