Naro,

funny thing you mentioned it. Good portion of my calls in the airport comes from the hurt crew on the in bound flights. Why? They are considered "enemies". After all the frustration and anxiety connected with flights (TSA, check points, anxiety and stupid rules) some will have a short fuse and take it out on them. Now this is not a terrorist attack. This is a "domestic violence dispute". Bystanders think: "why should I be pulled into this?" This is typical street bs. Just like many will not stand up to a guy beating up someone on the subway. After all everyone heard the story about someone trying to help just to be cought up in the law suit and all the legal junk. Also guy who is doing the wrong doing is kind of doing it for all of us. Out of the sudden my frustration with flights get released as well. Think of it as reverse heroism. We are all supressed and than somebody makes the stand. I know it is wrong but it's the same feeling. I saw a guy beating up a parking ticket lady while driving to the hospital. Nobody was helping. Now personally I felt good which is a bad feeling since somebody was getting hurt but a day before I got a $120 parking ticket. Would I have stop if not going to the call? Probably but my level of sympathy would be very low.

Now imagine the same situation but this time the gentelman is fitting terrorist profile and arguments get heated and there is a potential threat to me (an innocent bystander). Than I surely will do something about it.

Now in your case... Where was the air marshal? Where were fellow employees? Personally I met few flight attendants that deserved a beating.