A passenger who was “running late” for his flight has been charged after allegedly assaulting a Jetstar employee while trying to break his way onto the plane at Melbourne Airport this morning.

Video obtained exclusively by 9NEWS shows the moment the passenger managed to get to the door of Jetstar flight 508 and began ripping at the door about 9.30am today.

After several attempts to enter the plane, he eventually begins to bash it with his feet.

The 57-year-old then allegedly became irate and physical with Jetstar staff after being told he was hours late for his earlier flight to Adelaide.

It's believed he then started smoking inside the airport, which is forbidden, and ran to the nearest gate. He pushed the crew out of the way and ran onto the tarmac.

He forcibly pulled multiple times on the door of the Sydney-bound aircraft before being restrained by baggage handlers.

A man has been arrested after attempting to break into a Jetstar plane at Melbourne Airport. (9NEWS) (9NEWS)

Jetstar told 9NEWS this behaviour is "unacceptable" and placed an immediate ban on the passenger. (9NEWS) (9NEWS)

9NEWS understands three crew members required medical treatment.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers took the man into custody, and have since charged him with one count of unlawful assault of an airline employee.

He will appear at the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on June 12.

Investigations are ongoing and more charges may be laid, the AFP said in a statement.

The passenger was restrained by baggage handlers and was handed over to police. (9NEWS) (9NEWS)

Earlier today witness Susannah described the chaos at Terminal 4 as the incident unfolded.

"We were sitting waiting to get on the flight and people went 'Oh my god, what is going on?'" she told 9news.com.au.

"Someone was running on the tarmac.

"This man was trying to get up the stairs, he was physically fighting with the staff, punching and scratching them."

Susannah said the man was initially restrained by staff when he was halfway up the steps. He then somehow managed to free himself and reached the door of the plane.

"At some point he got away from them," she said.

"The federal police showed up five minutes later and walked him out."

A Jetstar spokeswoman is commending the work of their baggage handlers, who went "above and beyond" to restrain the man.

"We praise our crew for safely handling this incident and restraining the passenger until police arrived," Jetstar said in a statement.

"This behaviour is unacceptable and we have placed an immediate ban on this passenger travelling on all Jetstar and Qantas flights."

Jetstar has praised the staff for its handling of the situation. (9NEWS)

At least two of their employees were left with physical injuries as a result of the alleged attack.

"One of the employees came out with a wad of bandages and padding on his neck," Susannah said.

"He was the one being the assaulted the most."

Ms Murray, who going to Sydney for her grandmother’s funeral, said she has been left "rattled" by what happened.

"It absolutely was scary, in this day in age everyone is nervous when they fly, especially with everything going on overseas," Susannah said.

The flight was delayed at least an hour as engineers examine the aircraft.