Why on Earth would you want to take care of so many people when you could turn 'em loose in the terminal? This wasn't a situation where they had pushed and couldn't get a gate. They were still at the gate. Should just get them off the aircraft, especially if you are awaiting a part being flown in on a six hour flight from the east coast.
That being said, passengers always have some sort of trauma from things like this. I would hate to see them really get into a nightmare situation.