More than 70 people were evacuated from a charter flight in central Queensland on Wednesday evening due to a fire on their plane before take-off.

Emergency services were called to the Moranbah Airport just before 6:30pm.

A spokesman for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service said the fire appeared to be in the tail of the aircraft and had been extinguished by the time crews arrived.

He said it may have been caused by fuel leaking onto the exhaust.

It is understood there was some slight damage to the aircraft.

The airport is owned by mining company BMA which operates a number of coal mines around the Bowen Basin.

In a statement a spokesman said passengers smelled smoke as they boarded the plane.

They were returned to the terminal and operations at the airport resumed once it was safe to do so.

The aircraft, which is understood to be operated by Alliance Airlines, remains at the airport.

The Queensland Ambulance Service said all 77 people aboard safely evacuated the scene with no-one requiring treatment.