Has anyone doubted the veracity of the story and pictures?

I shared with a person who flies, and the response was:

"I find that hard to believe. throwing a ball at a plane from that distance and in the water would be probable, and might come close, but I don't think a ball would make it to the rear stabilizer. It would have to pass over the wing and close to an engine, air waves around the leading edge of the wing would force a small ball away from the plane."