A Dutch cyclist, riding for the Terrengganu team in Malaysia, escaped a Malaysia Airlines plane crash. Twice.

According to Maarten de Jonge's website, the 29-year-old, born in the Dutch town of Oldenzaal, was planning to travel back to Kuala Lumpur on Flight MH17 from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on Thursday after visiting his home country to participate in national championships.

He decided to swap flights as traveling via Frankfurt Sunday would save him some money, he told local broadcaster RTV Oost.