Upon making splashdown in the water, you quickly undo your parachute and decide to tread water for a moment to first get your bearings, and second, those fighter jets were bound to have seen you bail from the plane, so with any luck they'll send a vessel of some manner to rescue you.
Of course, this train of thought is cut short when you hear an explosion in the sky. Apparently Richard wouldn't comply, and he was shot down. However, just as you were about to mourn Richard's demise you can faintly see a parachute deploying, which must have meant Richard bailed like you did at the last second.
This of course meant your plan to evade the wave was a bust.