I operated an MD-11 into Quito many times, from both seats, day and night, for Gemini Air Cargo a few years ago.
Yeah, done the same but with 747-200s at max landing weight.
Went in there first time at night with rain and thunderstorm.
Asked the company to get a check-airman along to show me around.
They declined so I got to sort it out on my own.
(Not much of a safety culture with that lot
)
The problem on the turn to final is that ya usually get the glide slope before the localizer..Doing the right thing and waiting for loc will run ya high on the g/s initially, then ya have to dive down to get it, stablilize on the g/s untill mins, right around 650 feet, then leave the g/s to dive again to catch up with the VASI or PAPI lights (forgot which), then be right on speed and in the t/d zone, grab a handful of reverse and get it stopped without cooking them brakes.
Fairly easy operation on the B-747 as it is a stable machine and really flies like a big super-cub. Never flown the MD-11 or a 340, would imagine the speeds being about the same.
It could have been some mechanical failure with the brakes or anti-skid system.....?