A MELBOURNE-bound passenger plane has hit a kangaroo after it strayed on to a runway at the regional airport in Victoria’s northwest.

The Rex Airlines flight ZL3653 had to be cancelled after it struck the animal in the initial stages of takeoff about 6.30am.

An airline spokeswoman said the kangaroo hit the 34-seater plane’s right propeller.

“Takeoff was rejected and the aircraft is still in Mildura,” the spokeswoman said.

She said none of the plane’s occupants were hurt.

Passengers were shifted on to alternative flights and have since all made it to Melbourne.

The spokeswoman said the Saab 340 twin-turboprop’s propeller was damaged in the collision, with engineers to assess the extent of the impact.

Mildura Airport is surrounded by fences, so it’s not known how the kangaroo made it on to the tarmac.

samantha.landy@news.com.au