SYDNEY, July 5 (Xinhua) -- A curious turtle that wandered onto the runway at the Gold Coast Airport in Australia on Thursday evening, caused more than a few problems for travelers on board a Jetstar flight headed to Adelaide, the South Australia's capital.

While taxiing to the runway for takeoff, pilot James Fuller was forced to slam on the brakes, fearing the shelled creature could get sucked into the plane's powerful engine.

When he radioed the control tower for assistance, he was informed that the turtle often visits the airport.

"They said he'd been up there earlier in the day as well. It was the second time they'd had to move him," Fuller has told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Perhaps an avid aviation enthusiast, the turtle was eventually removed from the airport and taken to a safer location, but authorities said they remain on high alert in case the slow-moving animal returns again.

Although the incident did cause the flight to be delayed, one passenger did see the funny side of the situation.

"(They) brought the plane to a stop for a few minutes... to allow a gorgeous little turtle to cross the taxiway in front of the aircraft and make his way (yes, slowly -- give him a break -- it's a turtle!) to the creek near the airport fence," Jetstar passenger Lachlan Burnet tweeted.