grammar - Reported / indirect speech - why no backshift


I've come across the following example sentences and I wonder why only one part of the sentence requires backshift when put into reported speech. I am familiar with the general rules as well as exceptions (still true, future ...) but I still can't come up with an explanation:


The pilot’s words were: ‘The weather was extremely bad as the plane came in to land.’


Reported speech: The pilot commented that the weather had been extremely bad as the plane came in to land.


was extremely bad -> had been extremely bad // plane came in -> plane came in


To me, both the weather and the action of the plane coming in to land are in the past. Why don't we backshift the second part: The pilot commented that the weather had been extremely bad as the plane had come in to land.


Or, what about this one:


Barbara said, “I didn’t realise it was midnight.”


Barbara said she hadn’t realised it was midnight.


Is it okay to say: Barbara said she hadn't realised that it had been midnight.


Thank you!




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