If ground support was in attendance why can't they just do a runway inspection, lay the flares down the edge of the runway, and use the aircraft controllable search light to supplement the ground illumination? Much safer than getting succoured into a black hole approach. Unless the local operating rules dictate otherwise?
The power train replacement must have cost at least $1 million USD. Much cheaper me thinks just to lay the flares down the edge of the runway and execute a normal runway landing. To me it's just crazy landing into a flare circle when you have a 5000' runway that might otherwise be available.