But would the landing ac have been given a landing clearance if the flybe was told to line up? I don't think short finals makes a difference in the absence of actually being cleared to land: No landing clearance, no landing unless an emergancy landing is being conducted IMHO. Also, was the landing ac flying an instrument or visual approach? 5 mile final is roughly around the OM is it not? Is this 'short finals'?
Of course, all of the above is just my own views as a lowly PPL holder, but I am quite interested in this case.