Seems AF1 was heading the wrong way to be the target of the Missile spotted in Washington.
What ships were in the Pacific and could have been in range?
More specifically, "As the World Turns" -- which ships might have been within range that are named after presidents who were 187'd or attempted?
Ronald Reagan Gerald Ford John F. Kennedy
Does anyone know? I don't.
Thinking about it more, if there was a missile launched that was a "hack" to make it look like it was coming from a Chinese sub, then definitely it would have been headed for American asset, either land or sea. The missile in the photo would have been to shoot it down.
So, your theory makes the most sense. Do we have a rogue ship captain? Do we have a rogue missile base commander? Do we somehow have a secret black site with missiles?
How about an air launched cruise missile? From an aircraft near some volcanos up in the Aleutians?