It certainly does mean they are ignorant. Too many have refused to learn in science lessons at school how technical things work. Despite this they will happily board a technological device, not knowing how is works - and that makes then stupid.
I am prepared to accept that passengers are allowed to fly on planes without any prerequisite understanding of the technology. And I accept that this will often make them far more alarmed than they need to be when something untoward occurs.
It only becomes irritating when they then profess some degree of judgement in matters when discussing it with the press afterwards:
"The pilot was clearly struggling for control..."
"That other aircraft passed way too close..."
etc.