Band's plane has heavy metal fender bender

Ed Force One, the 747 of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, is seen parked with its engines damaged after being hit by a towing vehicle at the Santiago International Airport on March 12./ Reuters

Iconic British heavy metal band Iron Maiden won't run to the hills after its tour plane had an accident while being towed at a South American airport.

The plane collided while on the ground with the airport truck that was towing it Saturday, injuring two people and damaging two of the 747's engines.

Iron Maiden's plane, Ed Force One, was being towed for refueling at the Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez Airport in Santiago, Chile, before flying over the Andes for their next concert in Cordoba, Argentina, when a steering bolt that attaches the plane to the tow truck fell out and left the aircraft free to move out of control. It then crashed into the tow truck, badly damaging the undercarriage of the plane and two of the engines.

The band was en route to Cordoba after their concert in Chile, where 58,000 fans had attended their “Book of Souls” tour.

The two injured airport staff had been sent to the hospital, but are expected to make a complete recovery, officials said Saturday in a news update.

Band members and road crew were not on the plane at the time of the accident, and their 20 tons of equipment had not been loaded onto the band's signature Boeing 747 at the time, according to news reports.

The 747 had been purchased last year, replacing Iron Maiden's smaller 757. “We hope to find a new Ed Force One to continue this adventure with us in the near future. We will keep everyone updated when we know more, so keep checking only on this site for official news,” was posted on the Iron Maiden website.

The band also said the tragedy wouldn't interfere with the concert schedule, including the next two shows in Cordoba and Buenos Aires, Argentina.