LapSap,
Having experienced an emergency landing as a passenger (the real thing, including the "brace" position) I think I may have some insight into the behaviour of the passenger who wanted to get his passport. As we were descending I had what later struck me as possibly inappropriate thoughts, such as "my car keys are in the overhead locker; that means if I'm forced to leave them I'll have to find a alternative way home and return to Gatwick just to pick up my car. Or, as I'm flying again from Gatwick next week, should I just leave my car there?". Perhaps I, too, should have had different priorities...or perhaps this is one ways the mind diverts someone from dwelling too much on the reality of the situation.
P.S. Apologies for the thread drift.