The problem would have been had the passengers pulled on the O2 mask. I believe there is a "pin" that gets removed (at lest from the diagrams on some airlines safety cards) when the mask is stretched down (like a tripwire on a claymore.) This in theory would have stated the oxygen generator, which creates massive heat when started (a la air-tran aka value-jet.)
I have had oxygen masks erroniously deploy in the past from turbulance as well, and was informed NOT to pull it down.