Mike was mad. "Maybe Mom and Dad and Becky were out there too, watching over him; he refused to accept that they were gone forever, that he would never see them again." He struggled with himself, his emotions; he was grieving, depressed, bitter, and angry.
Both the article and the book feature "Man VS Self" conflict. The two situations in hand are similar. They portray an individual's inner battle with depression, mourning, and grief over a loved one's death. Both the relatives of the missing people on the airplane and Mike must conquer the obstacle of bitterness for their upsetting loss.
They all resort to violence, lashing-out, rage, and extreme reactions to relieve them of their emotions. It helps put off the pain they are feeling, and they isolate themselves from society. It is a temporary way to avoid their agony, but they must learn to accept the truth.
Truth is a heartbreaking thing: sometimes even deception seems better. But life must go on, and in the end, they will eventually have to get over the death. It is understandable for someone to grieve: death hurts. But they must continue on.