Hannah Thomson, 29, from Westerhope, Newcastle, lost her husband Nathan Davidson when he took his own life in 2020, aged 25. The devastated 29-year-old struggled with her grief and was unable to see a future. A solo trip at the age of 27 led her to rediscovering her confidence and her independence, and she went on to become a cabin crew member at TUI.
Rebuilding after loss
Alongside her job, Hannah shares her experience and reflections on grief on TikTok. She receives positive messages from people who say she has helped them take their first step. Hannah, who grew up in Ponteland, Northumberland, said: "Knowing my story has helped someone else believe in themselves makes everything I've been through feel worthwhile."
After losing Nathan, she began studying a BA in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics via the Open University. Hannah, who is naturally shy and introverted, took the brave step of travelling solo at the age of 27 – something she'd never believed she could do. She travelled to places like Morocco and Mexico and found that her life could still hold adventure and joy.
Inspired by TUI crew
While on a TUI flight to Cancun in Mexico, Hannah decided to apply to become cabin crew. She said: "I was sitting on the Dreamliner thinking how incredible it all felt and I remember asking myself, 'why not me?' That was the moment everything shifted. For the first time in a long time, I started believing there could be a positive future for me again."
Hannah applied to become TUI cabin crew soon after. She described the process as part of rebuilding her life after loss rather than leaving the past behind. She said the kindness she experienced from cabin crew during her own difficult moments inspired her to pursue the role. She said: "They make people feel safe without even knowing what they were going through. I wanted to be that person for someone else."
First flight and new beginnings
During her first flight, her mum surprised her by joining as a passenger. Hannah said: "Seeing how happy she was after everything we'd both been through was really powerful. That's when it truly hit me that I'd rebuilt my life into something beautiful again." Hannah marked the moment by getting a tattoo of her first flight route to Bourgas. The tattoo is a permanent reminder of how far she had come and how special that first journey felt.
She is just weeks into her new role and is already travelling across Europe. Italy is among her favourite routes and flying over the Alps has become one of her most memorable experiences. Hannah said the biggest surprise has been the impact she can have on others. She said: "I know what it feels like to feel vulnerable. If I can make someone feel safe, cared for or even just a bit brighter, that means everything to me."
A journey with Nathan
Hannah brought a photo of Nathan with her to her wings ceremony. She said: "Standing there in uniform, receiving my wings after everything I'd been through, was overwhelming in the best way. It felt like he was still part of that journey." Hannah, who has Lapland on her bucket list, is now embracing a life that once felt impossible. She hopes her story shows others that even the hardest life shifts can become the start of something new. She added: "Life can change in an instant. Don't ignore the things that make you happy, even if they scare you. I'm so grateful I had the chance to start again. Life can change in a moment, but sometimes the hardest chapters can lead you somewhere you never expected."
