private pilot involvement
The Albuquerque Journal today carried a story on a participant in this incident. It says that the co-pilot asked whether there were any pilots flying as passengers.
A private pilot (licensed 1.5 years, 150 hours) responding wound up in the right seat. In his own description the co-pilot "knew full well he could land the aircraft without my or anyone else's help". The private pilot stated that he performed some standard radio work, co-reviewed checklists, and lowered flaps and landing gear as instructed.
The Albuquerque angle is that the private pilot lives here.