PJ / FW, " four reds ". " something beneath the aircraft ".
This assumes that PAPI was visible sometime after 'first contact'. Furthermore this poses the question, contact with which feature.
Conventional overland NPAs require visual contact with the runway environment, which can be interpreted as not requiring contact with the runway, and in extreme no approach lights.
Overwater NPAs such as this approach, then the immediate coastline may have been seen, but nothing more. This could be similar to a classic night 'black hole' illusion where the focus of attention is on a single dominant feature, resulting a low visual approach.
Also that when the PAPI should have been visible were the conditions suitable to immediately determine 'red' etc.
Thoughts?