There are a few other ways to stop a plane, but none are as effective as applying brakes to the wheels.
The thrust reverser might not have been operational due to earlier bird strike.
There are speculations that the pilot might have been trying to extend the flaps and increase the angle of attack in a last-ditch effort to slow the plane, resulting in a surprisingly stable nose-up attitude as the plane skidded along the runway. (This is not an easy thing to maintain. Most planes landing on their bellies will skid sideways or roll over before long.) In any case, this could be a misinterpretation as the pilot could also have been trying to execute a go-around.
There are a few other ways to stop a plane, but none are as effective as applying brakes to the wheels.
The thrust reverser might not have been operational due to earlier bird strike.
There are speculations that the pilot might have been trying to extend the flaps and increase the angle of attack in a last-ditch effort to slow the plane, resulting in a surprisingly stable nose-up attitude as the plane skidded along the runway. (This is not an easy thing to maintain. Most planes landing on their bellies will skid sideways or roll over before long.) In any case, this could be a misinterpretation as the pilot could also have been trying to execute a go-around.