(CNN) -- The weeks have passed and, in most cases, their nerves have calmed. What began as shock, that they were almost victims of an in-flight terrorist attack, has morphed for many into contemplation. There are those who are still talking about what happened to them on Christmas Day, and there are others who are determined to put the incident behind them. The passengers of Northwest Flight 253 may have been one faulty explosive away from disaster. The suspect in that incident, Nigerian-born Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, 23, pleaded not guilty in January to six federal terrorism charges. And he has been talking to authorities, thanks to help from his own family members.
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Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab allegedly tried to detonate bomb on Northwest Flight 253
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As accused would-be bomber speaks to authorities, passengers share their thoughts
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Frustration with government and fear remains for some, while others move on
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Having "cheated death," one passenger is grateful for "this gift of continuing my life"
He is convinced that it is because of the passengers -- "We were all heroes," he said recently -- that @placeholder didn't become the next 9/11.