Crew and passengers fall ill on Jetstar flight

Jetstar said the plane was grounded for five hours. Photo / Greg Bowker

BRISBANE - Flight attendants and half a dozen passengers became sick on a Jetstar flight in Queensland when a chemical smell wafted through the plane.

Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said some cabin crew and six passengers reported feeling nauseous and light-headed about an hour into flight JQ 882 from Brisbane to Mackay on Thursday morning.

"Two doctors onboard the flight looked after the sick and the plane continued to Mackay," Mr Westaway told AAP.

"The captain was alerted and he radioed ahead to request medical and fire services to be on hand when the flight arrived.

"There was a view that there could have been some fumes in the plane's cabin."

The Department of Community Safety said paramedics and fire crews met the plane on the tarmac at the Mackay Airport at 8.50am (AEST).

The 128 passengers disembarked without their onboard luggage and the sick were attended to immediately.

"They were assessed and cleared," a DCS spokeswoman said.

"They didn't need to be taken to hospital for further treatment."

Jetstar said the plane was grounded for five hours and fire crews and an engineer checked the aircraft.

Mr Westaway said they confirmed reports of a chemical-like smell but have cleared the plane and it's back in service.

"We're satisfied the flight is right to continue services," he said.

- AAP