A troublesome turtle brought a passenger plane to a grinding halt after it went for a wander on the tarmac at Gold Coast Airport.

The pilot of a Jetstar flight bound for Adelaide had to apply the brakes after the reptile got too close for comfort as the plane was taxiing ahead of take-off on Thursday night.

Fearing the turtle could be sucked into the plane's right engine, the pilot radioed the control tower for help, only to be told it wasn't the critter's first offence.

"They said he'd been up there earlier in the day as well. It was the second time they'd had to move him," Jetstar spokesman James Fuller told the ABC.

A safety car was sent out to remove the turtle and pilots at the airport were keeping a keen eye out in case it decided to return.

AAP