SYDNEY - A GROUP of drunk passengers behaved so badly on an international flight their Australian jet returned to the tarmac just 30 minutes after take-off, the airline said on Saturday.

The Jetstar flight from the northern city of Darwin to Singapore turned back after a group of five men became 'exceptionally rowdy', a spokesman for the budget airline said.

The men were 'quite inebriated', spokesman Simon Westaway said.

'Unfortunately they've misbehaved in a very bad way and we've returned the aircraft,' Mr Westaway told national news agency AAP which reported that a fight broke out on board.

'From time to time people misbehave on air flights.'

Mr Westaway said the captain initially intended to have security meet the group on the ground in Singapore, but decided to turn back when they did not settle.

The five were met at Darwin airport by Australian Federal Police officers but it is understood no charges were laid.