Plane carrying five men charged over 'tinnie' terror plot arrives in Melbourne

The flight carrying five men accused of trying to flee to Syria by boat to join Islamic State has arrived in Melbourne.

A large security contingent is accompanying the men, who were taken from the Cairns Watch House in the early hours of the morning, on the specially-chartered plane which took off around 6.30am.

Islamic preacher Musa Cerantonio, Shayden Thorne, Kadir Kaya, Antonio Granata and Paul Dacre have been charged with making preparations for incursions into foreign countries to engage in hostile activities.

They were arrested near Cairns last week towing the seven-metre vessel en route to the tip of Cape York.

They allegedly planned to go by boat to Indonesia and then on to Syria.

Federal police successfully applied to have them extradited back to Victoria after they faced court in Cairns.

The men face a maximum penalty of life in jail if found guilty.

They'll be taken to the Melbourne Magistrates Court shortly after their arrival.