A QANTAS plane's tyre has burst on take-off, sparking a dramatic mid-air emergency for the 72 passengers on board.

Flight QF2512 took off from Brisbane Airport just before 10am, en route to Mackay.

Shirley Kritzinger, who was on board the flight, told 9NEWS that everyone knew immediately that something had gone wrong.

"As we were going down the runway there was a loud bang, as we almost took off, and we didn't know what it was," Ms Kritzinger said.

Air Traffic Control recordings obtained by 9News detail the moment the Qantas Link pilot raised the alarm.

"We may have done a tyre on take-off, if we can get an inspection thanks," he is heard saying on the radio.

Crews on the runway confirmed his suspicion.

"There's rubber all down the left-hand side," one operator said.

The plane then circled above the Sunshine Coast for an hour and a half, burning fuel, for a safe landing back at Brisbane Airport.

That's when the shock set in for passengers.

"The captain came on and just explained he thinks one of the inner tyres had burst," Ms Kritzinger said.

"It was really calm - actually too calm.

"You start thinking things through your mind."

All passengers boarded a replacement flight to Mackay this afternoon.