Air India B788 at Melbourne on Jan 14th 2014, nearly landed on small airport

An Air India Boeing 787-800, registration VT-ANM performing flight AI-301 from Sydney,NS to Melbourne,VI (Australia), was descending towards Melbourne when the crew requested a VOR approach to runway 34 but was cleared for a visual approach to runway 34. The aircraft aligned with Melbourne's Essendon Airport's runway 35 (1,500 meters/4930 feet length) and descended towards that runway when the air traffic controller interevened instructing the crew to turn left and subsequently telling the crew their runway was in their 2 o'clock position, they were still cleared for the visual approach runway 34. The aircraft turned towards the correct runway, climbed slightly from about 1300 to 1500 feet and landed safely on Melbourne's runway 34 (length 3660 meters/12,000 feet).

Following the Air India air traffic control repeatedly asked approaches whether they were able to see the aerodrome beacon, crews reported they were seeing but losing the beacon again.

The ATSB did not open an investigation stating the system worked as it was supposed to do.

Metars:

YMML 140000Z 35026G36KT CAVOK 36/08 Q1013 FM0000 MOD TURB BLW 5000FT

YMML 132333Z 36024G35KT CAVOK 36/08 Q1013 FM2333 MOD TURB BLW 5000FT

YMML 132300Z 01028KT CAVOK 34/09 Q1013 FM2300 MOD TURB BLW 5000FT

YMML 132230Z 36028KT CAVOK 33/09 Q1013 FM2230 MOD TURB BLW 5000FT

YMML 132200Z 36028KT CAVOK 32/08 Q1013 FM2200 MOD TURB BLW 5000FT

YMML 132138Z 36025G35KT CAVOK 31/08 Q1013 FM2138 MOD TURB BLW 5000FT

YMML 132100Z 36022KT CAVOK 30/08 Q1013 FM2100 MOD TURB BLW 5000FT

YMML 132030Z 35018KT CAVOK 28/08 Q1013 FM2030 MOD TURB BLW 5000FT

YMML 132000Z 35016KT CAVOK 27/08 Q1013 FM2000 MOD TURB BLW 5000FT

Map (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):