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Everyone is innocent until proven guilty and there may be details that come out in this that show the airline crew overreacted. These days, if I'm on a plane I'd rather they be safe than sorry. I can be late for my trip to Hawaii.
The local stations here in Portland have said that the crew asked him to stow a bag, he refused, and then got threatening. Again, maybe it will turn out the crew was rude and he tried to explain, words were exchanged ...whatever.
Right now, from my point of view if I'm a passenger on a plane less than a month after a flight had a bomber on board I know a couple of things: a) When airline personnel make a request you comply. If you don't think it's fair or you don't like their tone you right a letter to the company AFTER you have landed. You don't get into an argument with them on the plane while it's up. b) If you've got a bag you refuse to let go of - even to stow, it has to occur to you someone is going to worry and get suspicious. c) Even before 9/11 it isn't safe to keep a bag on your lap while the plane's ascending (I assume it was). For everyone's safety bags should be stowed throughout a trip but particularly when you are going up and coming down.
Again, details may come out that will show this guy was entirely within his rights and the crew completely overreacted, but given the circumstances they face everyday and the fact they have thousands of lives in their hands daily I think they have that right. If the guy did refuse to stow a bag when they asked him to and he got threatening - I hope they charge him with everything they can. There's no place for that on a plane in this day and age.
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