Parents say daughter wasn't supposed to be on MH17

There were 298 innocent people on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, including 25-year-old Fatima Dyczynski.

She was flying to Australia to see her parents and start a new life in Perth.

I met Fatima Dyczynski and her parents at the 2013 IAC mtg. The very intelligent young space enthusiast was on MH17. http://t.co/Lb9n0no0Ok

— Leroy Chiao (@AstroDude) July 20, 2014

Fatima, an aerospace engineer was a promising young innovator. She even started her own company, and had lectured in Beijing about a new satellite phone app that kept families connected. Fatima loved kung fu, played guitar in a rock band, and was on her way to achieving her lifelong goal of becoming an astronaut.

Fatima didn't intend to be on that flight. In a tragic twist of fate, she missed the previous flight because of work.

Outfront, Fatima's parents: George and Angela Dyczynski.

Astronaut Leroy Chiao wrote to Fatima's parents expressing his condolences:

Dear Angela and Jerzy,

Words cannot describe how deeply saddened I am to learn of your loss. Although I only met Fatima and you two briefly, I remember our meeting clearly. Fatima struck me as a highly intelligent and motivated young person, with a passion for space endeavors. I was very impressed by her, and was more than happy to provide a quote for her TEDx talk. I remember how proud you both were of her, it was very sweet.

I will keep Fatima, and both of you in my thoughts and prayers.

With my deepest sympathies,

Leroy Chiao

In addition, Astronaut Story Musgrave also shared his admiration for the young engineer.

"One of the most promising, most enterprising and spirited creatures on this planet now departed, our loss is as great as she was," Musgrave said.