how much effort does it take for someone in the Phillipines to practice placing a small piece of plastic explosive on the lock on a cockpit door, and whipping out a Bic lighter or a match to ignite it? After enough practice, someone could do it in 20 seconds. the passengers aren't even going to know what is going on in such a short amount of time to be able to get to the guy in time, especially when two of his jihadi buddies are blocking the aisle.
As for the latter, I don't know about you, but the few times I've been near the front of a plane since 9/11, no one walks toward the front without being followed by many, many pairs of eyes.
Then there are air marshals, and perhaps armed pilots.
Call me skeptical. But then again I'm not one of those who attributes any kind of superhuman powers the terrorists, or thinks that just because they want to do something or talk about it that they can actually do it.
But feel free to think this was a real thwarting of a realistic plot, if it makes you feel better.