He looked straight into the camera with a gentle smile. “See you soon…” he said, his voice calm, filled with the excitement of travel and the promise of reunion. It was a message meant for his family, a casual farewell video from the airport lounge before boarding an Air India flight. Just hours later, the man whose name is now being mourned across continents would become one of the 239 lives lost in one of India’s most tragic aviation disasters.

The British passenger, 34-year-old Daniel Morris from Manchester, had been traveling to New Delhi on business. Known for his love of exploration and his habit of recording short videos for his wife and young daughter whenever he traveled, this final clip—just 12 seconds long—has now taken on a haunting new meaning. What was once a simple gesture of affection has become a symbol of the fragility of life.

In the video, Daniel is seated near a large glass window, sipping coffee, suitcase beside him. He turns the camera toward himself and says, “Boarding in 15. I’ll see you soon. Love you both.” He flashes a quick smile and gives a two-finger salute. The screen goes black. Hours later, the Air India flight lost contact with air traffic control and crashed in the mountains near Himachal Pradesh.

The heartbreaking clip has gone viral, shared by devastated friends and relatives. One caption reads: “He didn’t know this would be the last thing we’d ever hear from him.” Another says simply: “Come home, Dan.”

Daniel’s wife, Emily Morris, spoke to the press from their home in the UK. With tears in her eyes, she held up her phone with the video playing on loop. “He always did this,” she said. “Always left a little video to tell us not to worry. He made us feel like he was never far away. I can’t believe that this time… this time he’s not coming back.”

Air India authorities have confirmed that Daniel’s body was among those recovered from the wreckage, though official identification is still ongoing. His family is now working with both Indian and British consulates to repatriate his remains. Tributes have flooded in, not just from friends but from strangers who’ve watched his final message and felt an overwhelming wave of sorrow.

One viewer commented, “I didn’t know him, but that smile and that farewell broke me. He could’ve been any of us.”

Investigations into the crash are continuing. Preliminary data from the flight recorder indicates the aircraft encountered severe weather turbulence and may have suffered a sudden systems failure. The exact cause remains unclear, but aviation experts are combing through every detail—from maintenance logs to the last communication between cockpit and tower.

Daniel’s final video is now being considered by investigators as a potentially vital piece of timeline evidence. Analysts are studying the background noise, visible time stamps, and terminal environment to cross-reference with surveillance and flight departure data.

Meanwhile, Emily has chosen to release the video publicly, hoping to draw attention not only to the personal pain of families like hers but also to the importance of air travel safety. “If people see how real this is, maybe they’ll push harder for answers,” she said. “Daniel didn’t deserve to go this way. None of them did.”

Back in Manchester, neighbors have set up a candlelit memorial in front of the Morris family’s home. Photos of Daniel laughing with his daughter, holding hands with Emily on a beach trip last summer, and cycling through the Peak District line the street. His daughter, just five years old, has been told that “Daddy is in the sky,” but not why he isn’t coming down.

Across social media, #SeeYouSoonDan is trending—a phrase that once meant comfort, now echoing with heartbreak. People from all over the world are sharing their own stories of loved ones lost in similar tragedies, and many are calling for increased scrutiny of airline safety protocols, especially in regions with unpredictable weather.

The British Foreign Office has issued a statement offering condolences and promising full support to the victims’ families. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also released a brief note of sympathy: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the Air India tragedy, especially the loved ones of British citizen Daniel Morris. We mourn with you.”

But for Emily, words mean little right now. “I want to scream,” she admits. “But when I see that video, I just cry. That little smile… that voice… he had no idea it would be his last goodbye.”

And yet, somehow, in that quiet moment recorded for no one but the two people he loved most, Daniel Morris left behind something eternal. A whisper of love. A promise. A farewell, spoken not with fear, but with warmth.

“See you soon,” he said.

The whole world now wishes he could.