I was responding to this comment: “And then just stop out in front of you with no continuing contrail.”
It happens all the time with contrails. That was my only point.
It wouldn't have happened with this one as the same atmospheric condition existed from off the coast to the Rockies. As excited as the photographer was, evident from his testimony later, he would not have stopped filming or watching when the contrail ended way out to the west without looking for the airplane which would have been coming straight towards him and reflecting bright silver from the sun.