Jet Revving for Takeoff Sends Window Flying

As Copacabana restaurant employees sought to soothe rattled patrons, authorities began their investigation of the freak accident Friday night when an executive jet at Lindbergh Field blew out a plate-glass window at the restaurant, sending shards of glass flying and injuring 23 diners.

None of the restaurant patrons were seriously injured, though eight were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated mostly for cuts and sprained ankles and released. Fifteen diners were examined at the restaurant, Harbor Police said.

A Copacabana employee, who declined to give his name, said the restaurant is back in operation.

The Copacabana is situated near a runway taxi area. On Friday evening, a Gulfstream G-3 twin-engine jet had been parked in front of the restaurant and its pilot revved the engine at 10:23 p.m. as he prepared to taxi down the runway for take-off, said Harbor Police Officer David Zacchilli. The ensuing blast from the jet, situated only about 20 yards from the restaurant, shattered the large window and glass rained on the patrons inside.

At least one piece of glass was propelled with such force that it embedded in a wall 15 feet away from the window, witnesses said.

“I never had experienced something like that before,” said DeDe Montoya, who was in the restaurant but uninjured. “I could see the plane getting closer and I know because of the noise the plane was making, it was making the window vibrate. I just put my head under the table.”

One airport official said the pilot of the Hawaii-based jet violated no regulations. The Federal Aviation Administration, however, will investigate the incident.

“The pilot was not in violation, it was just a little lack of common sense,” said one airport supervisor who declined to give his name. “He used too much thrust to get his airplane going.”

Authorities say the pilot, who continued his take-off, was oblivious to the commotion. Zacchilli said officials are trying to track down the pilot and plane.

Most pilots do not taxi to the very end of the runway, officials said.

“And the pilots who do go to the end, know their tail points to the restaurant and most don’t blow a lot of hot air when they are turning and know they have something behind them,” said another airport supervisor, who declined to use his name.

It is not yet known whether the pilot of the Gulfstream G-3 had ever before flown into Lindbergh Field.

The Copacabana opened about two years ago under its current name. The restaurant was formerly known as the Boom Trenchard, which traded heavily on its airport image and was decorated with airplane knickknacks. Several years ago, the restaurant’s awnings were damaged in a similar incident, one airport official said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.