It does seem strange that the pax weren't briefed to exit the disc before the cab lifted? Hogging the airframe while waiting for him to depart seems a little odd.
It appears on face value that his skid tip "may" have snagged smoething as he was lifting causing the cab to roll onto its side and the shrapnel took out everything within 10 metres.
Overdrive:
'til they walk away to the upwind rear of the aircraft
you mean downwind don't you.....