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Maarten De Jonge, Dutch Cyclist, Was Scheduled To Fly On Both Doomed Malaysia Airlines Flights

Dutch Man Was Scheduled To Fly On Both Doomed Malaysia Airlines Flights
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UPDATE: Slate has published a piece casting doubt on the fact that de Jonge was actually booked on both ill-fated flights.

A Dutch man has cheated death twice this year after he changed his flights at the last minute.

Maarten de Jonge was scheduled to fly on both downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and the still-missing Flight MH370, but altered his routes, according to Dutch news outlet RTV Oost.

In a translated statement on his website, de Jonge expressed sadness for the deaths of the victims on Flight MH17 and asked that his story be given no more publicity.

"I have my story done and I would like to leave it. How happy I am for myself and my family that I was on this flight did not take the last moment, my story is ultimately nothing compared to the misery in which so many people are paid."

Although his parents are worried, de Jonge told RTV Oost he still plans to fly to Malaysia later this week to be part of a cycling team.

"I have been lucky twice, that's the third time as well."

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