Either they would have actually "gone around" and executed the original approach (which would have been aborted when the gear didn't lock), or they had had mech

Either they would have actually "gone around" and executed the original approach (which would have been aborted when the gear didn't lock), or they had had mechanical problems and wouldn't have been able to make this 180º turn if they wanted to. There was ocean on three sides of them that would have provided a rough but survivable landing, as demonstrated a decade ago in New York. At no point was this landing fine or by the book, and talking about ground obstructions is just a way to distract you.