The eyewitnesses were not looking at contrails over a mountain. They were looking out at a flat ocean where the concept of “up” is pretty clear.
That is true. I was just throwing that out there. I honestly don't think you could keep 200+ sailors quiet, especially at that time (I was in under Clinton's first couple of years, the military's hatred of the man within the ranks was palpable), so I discount our Navy having a hand in it. It was also too high for a MANPAD at the time. On-board bomb? Plausible.