Rock star Bruce Dickinson flew to the rescue of 221 stranded XL clients yesterday, piloting a Boeing 757 to Sharm-el-Sheik in Egypt.

The singer with heavy-metal band Iron Maiden stepped into his other role as a captain with British airline Astraeus to answer the call for help.

And after landing back at Gatwick following the five-hour flight, 50-year-old Bruce dashed home to sleep before he was due to leave again last night to pick up tourists stuck on the Greek island of Kos.

High notes: Captain Bruce took time off from rocking to fly out and help stranded passengers

Minutes after touching down at 7.50am yesterday, the rocker famous for his spandex and leather stage outfits said: ‘I was just doing my job. I was called out like a lot of other pilots to help and I was obviously happy to do that.

‘Some of the people on the flight were obviously frustrated by the situation they had found themselves in but everyone was pretty good-natured about it all.

‘I am going to get some sleep now and will be off again overnight to Kos.

‘To be honest my life’s great – I get paid to do my two hobbies.’

Marc Cryer, a passenger on the specially chartered flight, said he knew the musician was a trained pilot but was surprised to see him. He said: ‘I recognised him but I think I was about the only person on the plane who did.’

Bruce, who sang lyrics such as ‘bring your daughter to the slaughter’, has been a captain with Astraeus for two-and-a-half years, having worked for the airline for nine years. The singer decided to become a pilot during a low point in his solo career, which began when he quit the band in 1993, although he rejoined in 1999. He learned to fly commercial planes and secured his first job with the now-defunct airline British World.

He takes unpaid leave to perform with Iron Maiden, who have sold 80million albums, and flies the band around the world while they are on tour.