I suppose the flyers who left the plane were given no-cost ticket changes for a later flight. AS has always been good, IMHO, in resolving skittish passenger issues. IIRC, in 1997 my turn around flight from FBX to SEA was delayed coming to FBX b/c of mechanical and then delayed again for mechanical on the way back. Several passengers refused to board and got no-cost ticket changes to a later flight.

Is this how AS is still doing business?