Just for info….I was not an F-15 pilot but there are comparisons.

Look at the aircraft.

Both pilots need to eject while the aircraft is moving forward at a high speed.

IF the pilot in front ejects first, the rockets attached to his ejection seat will incinerate the guy in the back seat.

So, the aircraft is hard-wired to launch the back seat first.

Usually the front seat must trigger the ejection. (I lost a friend because of this flaw.). Once ejection is triggered, both flight crew are doomed to the sequence.

I flew the A-4. I could eject in level flight upside down at 700 feet of altitude and get one swing in my chute before hitting the ground.

So the crew of this F-15 ejected on one single handle pull. Without option the back seat weapons guy went first, followed by the pilot.

Since newscasts call both crew members “pilot”, I have no idea if the rescued crew member is the pilot or the weapons officer.

But…the one who isn’t yet found…something kept him from revealing his position to rescuers…I hope he is not dead or incapacitated.