It is an incredibly small world... Never taken pics or video of a plane takeoff and have it not return safely. Not a great feeling.
Aviation photography has been a blessing of a hobby, but as much as it can be a joy or exciting, these are, in the end, dangerous jobs people do every day. And I don't ever lose sight of that.
I am quite relieved to hear the pilot is ok. I wish them the best in recovery after ejecting: no small experience to go through.
With regard to the fighter lost in a crash off Rimrock Lake in the Cascades, it is this Legacy Hornet airframe visiting from MCAS Miramar.
'SNAKE21' was 165412, tail WS-415 from VMFA-323 'Death Rattlers'.