Rock band's jet grounded after after Chile crash

The jet was tethered to a tow truck to be taken for refuelling in Santiago, Chile, when the steering pin - part of the mechanism that connects the ground tug to the aircraft - seemingly fell out.

On making a turn, the aircraft collided with the ground tug, badly damaging the undercarriage and two of the aircraft’s engines, as well as injuring two ground tug operators, both of whom have been taken to hospital.

A man statement said: “We hope of course that they make a full and speedy recovery and we will be closely monitoring their progress. The flight engineers are on site and evaluating the damage, but their initial report is that the engines have suffered large damage and will require an extended period of maintenance and possibly two new engines.”

The successful band, formed in 1975, will close Download Festival 2016 in Leicestershire on June 12. They were set to arrive in the East Midlands in the Boeing 747 piloted by lead singer, Worksop-born Bruce Dickinson.

A commercial airline pilot and established aviation entrepreneur, Dickinson has been their captain as they visit 35 countries in Ed Force One - which has carried the band, stage production and equipment during their The Book Of Souls World Tour. Last year he successfully underwent surgery for a cancerous tomour on his tongue.