Some of the gates were closed, but not all of them. And it certainly was not as if the employees of WSL were evil. They just didn't know any better. So while some of the gates were closed, others were wide open. There was no rhyme nor reason to what happened on one area of the ship as protocol for the other areas. Most of the crew were wrestled up at the last moment and insufficiently trained...Especially to deal with what was the most impossible thing that could happen. A total loss.

But IF I were in that situation, I'd do my best to rally the troops and break free, or simply look for another exit. I agree that thought of drowning scares me to death, but also that there's no way I'd have given up without a fight.