This Man Cheated Death Twice After Canceling Tickets on Both Tragic Malaysian Airlines Flights

A Dutch cyclist who bought tickets for both doomed Malaysian Airlines flights canceled his tickets

By Elizabeth Freda Jul 21, 2014 9:12 PMTags
Maarten de JongeCourtesy: maartendejonge.com

Surely by now, you are all up to date on the heartbreaking stories of Flight MH370 and Flight MH17. Both Malaysian Airlines flights have ended in tragedy and left families distraught and entire countries in need of answers.

Flight MH370 disappeared over the Indian Ocean in March and its location is still unknown. Flight MH17 was likely shot down over eastern Ukraine last week with hundreds of casualties.

Few of us can imagine something this horrible happening to someone we knew, let alone to ourselves. However, a Dutch cyclist has reportedly come awfully close. Twice.

DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images

According to a a report out of the NetherlandsMaarten de Jonge, 29, was scheduled to fly on both Malaysian Airlines flights, but ended up changing his tickets at the last minute. Last Thursday, de Jonge would have been on board the latest Malaysian flight if he hadn't decided to extend his trip until later in the week.

De Jonge narrowly avoided being on Flight MH 370 in March, as well. The cyclist and the rest of his Terengganu Cycling Team decided to switch to another flight to avoid a layover. Had that layover not been a priority, the team's fate may have been completely different. To say de Jonge is lucky would be an understatement.

Courtesy: maartendejonge.com

On his website, de Jonge wrote in Dutch: "How happy I am for myself and my family that I was on this flight and did not take it the last moment; my story is ultimately nothing compared to the misery in which so many people are paid. Attention should be paid to the victims and survivors. Wishing everyone affected by this disaster a lot of strength."

Apparently, despite his brushes with potential death, de Jonge will still be flying to Malaysia later this week and isn't too worried about his flights. "I have been lucky twice," he reportedly said.