Near the end of the movie, Bond in on the commandeered JetStar on his way to Washington.

146:12 During the flight, an armed Goldfinger appears from behind a curtain on the plane.

146:15 we see a scene of the original flight crew bound and gagged in a hanger struggling to free themselves.

147:27 the military discovers the flight crew only now they are unconscious.

What did they do, exert themselves into unconsciousness?