My $0.02 worth, as an ex-CX pilot....
There was no excuse for not going around on a gross overshoot of the 13 centreline after making the turn. KA, being familiar with HKG, should have been able to make just the same logical assessments of the wind effects on the turn
prior to commencing this approach.
We would often brief, for example, expect a tightening wind - turn early if visual / performance gain turning into the wind / wind rotors off Lion Rock if I go too far left when visual on the 088 portion, etc. (Just as we would prior to creeping along the edge of the DMZ in Seoul when landing south).
Anticipation.
If it all looks pear-shaped I'll throw it away....
Now, Alitalia perhaps not quite so familiar with Kai Tak, so perhaps caught more by suprise. It looks to me that the MD-11 was battling a slackening wind and undershot final considerably - fun for the lads in the Flying Club, to be sure. A bit of wiggly-woo and he was lucky not to whack a pod, if you ask me....not to mention side-loads on the tires and gear...
A tightening wind with cloudbase at 660 ft was always the most challenging, IMHO. As soon as you broke out you should be turning. However, I too well remember this KA incident, and talking to my neighbour who was in the tower that day - and was justifiably furious. The wx and cloudbase were not challenging - no excuse. ANA did it about a year later with a freighter and blew a donk, going around shedding bits. KA were lucky not to do the same.
