They were desperate. When a person is down, depressed, and desperate, anything can happen. Just as there are times when one's physical resistance can be low, there are times when one's spiritual resistance is low. At times of great emotional stress, a person can be susceptible to spiritual threats which would normally not harm him. Although it is no longer as prevalent as it was some years ago, there was a time when one could not go through a major airport in this country without meeting a representative from the Hari Krishna.
Airports are unique because people there are often are in flux.
People are going to funerals, coming from funerals, going away from a loved one, running away from home. People arrive after fights and arguments, after breaking up a relationship. There are a lot of desperate people walking around airports, and that is when people are susceptible. That is when they are ready to try anything. Because he was depressed and broken.