Well we might not know until he tells us why he chose to land there, disasters don't just happen its a chain of critical events. In the end the pilot managed to react in a split second and saved first the lives of the passengers and crew and then the multi million dollar gigantic flying bird.
Since he said they simulate such events, well kudos to him, he got it right practically outside the simulator. Taking off and Landing are the most critical and difficult phases in flight. It's a nightmare to all pilots both experienced or armatures, anything can happen!