Family missed Malaysia Airlines flight that crashed

A closed desk of Malaysian airlines is seen at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Thursday, July 17, 2014. Ukraine said a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, and both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane. AP/Phil Nijhuis

MANILA, Philippines — A Scottish woman of Asian descent, her husband and their baby did not make it to Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that crashed in Ukraine last night.

Izzy Sim, who was with her husband Barry, told the UK's Telegraph she believes "someone" has been "watching over" them and said, "You must not get on that flight."

The couple said there were not enough seats on the plane for them and so they booked another flight via KLM at the last minute.

LIVE updates: Malaysia Airlines flight MH17

Sim said in the report that that young family has been loyal to Malaysia Airlines even as it had a recent history of a flight that disappeared into Asian waters and has not been located.

"In my mind, lightning never strikes twice in the same place so I am still philosophical that you get on the flight and you go about your life," Barry told the British newspaper.

"Probably the last thing she wants to do now is fly, especially to Kuala Lumpur," he added.

Three Filipinos, however, made to Boeing 777 flight believed to have been shot down by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

The three were confirmed dead Friday, along with 292 other passengers, but their identities have not yet been released.

Malaysian Airlines Vice President Huib Gorter said that 154 Dutch nationals, 27 Australians, 23 Malaysians, six British, four Germans, four Belgians, three Filipinos and a Canadian are in the passenger manifest.

Fifty other passengers, meanwhile, have not yet been identified. - Camille Diola

Show comments