There's probably some simpler and less heroic true story here, but it's been ridiculously embellished. The passengers applauding as they walked down the aisle?! Come on, that's a "fatty hero" story trope right there. Also, give the nature of plane seating (and some of the story specifics) most people wouldn't have really been aware of the details of who did what, or even what "the incident" was at all.