but do you blame them? if someone feels they are about to die a fiery death, how would you expect them to react? they're only human... there is very much a "them and us" mentality, especially with security procedures these days now that the pax rarely ever see their flight crew. this mentality is exacerbated by the reports of cabin crew refusing to let pax alight prior to the spanair incident. the pax feel trapped!
it's the responsibility of the airline to inform/instruct/reassure the pax, and if the airline fails to reassure, i'd say the pax have a right to protest.