Flight is generally the safest option when threatened and so it is in an aircraft. The last thing you want is a hysterical person yanking open the pilots door and grabbing the collective or beating hell out of the pilot. The pilot should have realised what was going to happen more quickly and taken off regardless of any pre take-off checks. A shout of "hang on tight" to the pax would have been enough, then up and away, if only to a high hover.