They must have been some very stressed people!
I've had similar run-ins with naughty ET pax who sneak through the curtain to use the facilities.
One memorable time was being sat in the front row with the seat next to me naturally empty — I just had a couple of newspapers and an empty bottle of champagne there — the ET guy told me to move my stuff so he can sit down while waiting for the loo.
Suffice to say he was met with a polite refusal, which was met with a grunt and a glare!