The article mentions 49 passengers and a single F/A, so its assumedly an RJ. As usual its a "US Airways plane" although it's operated by someone else.
I know as crewmembers we look at this as, whoo-hoo, a cabin prep. Of course its scary, but the press always likes to find the most frightened person on the aircraft, preferably a priest, promising student, or pregnant woman. 🙄 Then they throw in refrences to 9-11 (one of the biggest tragedies in the nations history and a flight returning to the airport where the passengers have to do the brace position as a precaution, um, ok).
Remember last year when a US Airways flight to Ireland had some sort of minor problem, and the Irish press's rendering of the rather routine diversion. The newspaper had a gripping story filled with panicked crew opening doors and windows over the ocean to let out smoke and fire. 😱 And oh yeah, the "air hostesses" begging passengers for help in what to do (in reality briefing the previously chosen able bodied passengers on exit operation and crowd control in the event they become incapacitated).
Shirley, to answer your question I've had a few minor incidents and have never seen anyone freak out, looks of concern, yes, but certainly no sobbing, prayer circles, or unneccesaary cell phone use. I've had people freak out more over duplicate seats, lack of coffee, and not recieving a fantasy special meal.
Even pre-9/11, the US public in general, while a difficult, condescending, and sometimes violent bunch towards cabin crew members normally, seem to be pretty calm and attentive during emergencies. You dont hear of American (the country, not the airline) flight attendants that don't know what they are doing in an emergency situation.
Thats when folks suddenly are thankful for those seasoned, professional F/As... Not to bash our foriegn peers, but I remember the Singapore Airlines crash in Taiwan a couple of years ago, and the survivors talking about the flight attendants. They said they never said a word the whole time, didnt brief anyone, and apparently the passengers (!) struggled to figure out how to operate the doors. I remember them saying they were all "so young and timid" and not to mention that they were wearing a sarong or sari or whatever they make those girls wear. I know I'd much prefer to have a highly trained U.S. F/A in a drab but sensible uniform than a Singapore Girl in a silk hanky that can shine my shoes but isnt much help in an emergency. 🙄
