Sky have suggested that the pilots may have been confused by an airport with six runways (as if).
I have occasionally been offered a visual switch from 18R to 18C, but I hardly think ATC would offer, nor any sane jet pilot accept it in this weather...
Metar 250955z 21010kt 4500 Br Bkn007 Ovc008 05/04 Q1027 Tempo 2500
So our friend is a career co-pilot from 74's. All becomes clear.