http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/18/family-missed-malaysia-airlines-flight-seat-mh17

A family had a lucky escape after they switched flights from a Malaysia Airlines plane because it was full.

Barry Sim tried to board flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur but could only get one seat, the BBC reported.

Instead, Sim and his wife, Izzy, booked on to a KLM flight with their baby son.

Nine Britons are now known to have died when flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday.

Officials from the airline said 298 people were on board the Boeing 777-200, which was apparently shot down over the war-torn country.

After hearing of the crash, Sim told the BBC: "You get this sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. We started getting butterflies. Your heartbeat starts going."

Sim, who is believed to be from Methlick, Aberdeenshire, said he was "philosophical" about continuing to "go about your life", saying he believed the couple should take the KLM flight, despite his wife's misgivings about the danger of another crash.

"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. I know my wife doesn't feel like that. Probably the last thing she wants to do now is fly, especially to Kuala Lumpur."

Izzy Sim said: "There must have been someone watching over us and saying, 'You must not get on that flight.' We are very loyal to Malaysia Airlines and we always want to fly with Malaysia Airlines."

If you want to die, or dissapear or the face of the earth - #FlyMalaysia

Lol in all seriousness sorry to the families of all lost loved ones.

Well he dogded a rocket there...

It still boggles my mind why they didnt redo the route. Instead the company will now be sued for millions and millions and have their brand seriously damaged. All because of them not reading the news.

Fifteen years from now: "You know, we should have sent you on that plane alone."

"There must have been someone watching over us and saying, 'You must not get on that flight.' We are very loyal to Malaysia Airlines and we always want to fly with Malaysia Airlines."

I guess you guys are special and noone was watching out for the 290 other people...

They were hardly the only airline continuing to fly that route: few, if any, airlines adjusted their route.

Obviously, that's changed since, but hindsight.

I know what you mean. I wanted to comment on that too, but then I remembered all the silly things that people say or wish for, especially religious (I'm religious myself) and uneducated people. I've heard several relatives of mine saying that someone was watching over them after surviving a car crush or something similar and I always find it hard not to ask them, "so no one watches over all the people that die on car accidents every day, right?". But I don't blame them. They recycle what they hear, much like when even atheists say "Thank God". I've also heard quite a few people saying "I had a bad feeling that I couldn't explain and decided not to ... Someone must have been watching over me".

dat gaming discussion though :P

Kind of seems a bit insensitive to me honestly.