Originally Posted by
underfire
This is about exactly what they saw
That's not really what they saw, they were lined up on the taxyway as we know; this image is lined up on the runway. Different perspective. Would be good to see it.presumably the X loses its prominence the more to one side of it you are, likewise the approach lighting.
At the risk of repeating myself the parallels with the TWO incidents at Gatwick where there were actual landings on the taxyway are too close to ignore.
- Runways unusually far closer together that most places, as close as taxyway spacing elsewhere.
- Lights turned off on a runway that is closed.
- Random bright construction lights on the closed runway make it look like a ramp area, not a runway.
- Crew see two parallel strips and, regardless of the actual lights displayed, have in their mind that the left hand one is closed and they should be headed for the right hand one.
- ILS not used (the Gatwick northern runway I believe did not have it installed) so a manual night approach.