Sure, of course if ATC tells them to land on a runway that is clearly occupied they have a responsibility to notice this and override. In this case, they were

Sure, of course if ATC tells them to land on a runway that is clearly occupied they have a responsibility to notice this and override. In this case, they were directed into an area that was not occupied by an authority that controls the region's airspace. They could have asked ATC about it but ATC has control over the airspace.