A Melbourne-bound flight was cancelled this morning after it struck an animal on the Mildura Airport runway.

Rex Airlines flight 3653, scheduled to depart Mildura Airport at 6.30am hit an animal during takeoff, believed to have been a kangaroo.

Mildura Airport CEO Bill Burke, a rex airlines spokeswoman and an Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman all confirmed the plane hit a kangaroo.

The airline said it had made alternative travel arrangements for its Melbourne-bound passengers.

Aircraft engineers have begun inspecting the Saab 340 twin-turboprop, which was deemed "unserviceable".

More to come.

Sunraysia Daily