Welcome to Date with Destiny! In this inaugural episode, Captain Christopher Behnam shares his gripping journey from a young boy watching airplanes take off in Iran to piloting some of the world’s largest aircraft for United Airlines. Through perseverance, determination, and an unbreakable will, Captain Behnam overcame political persecution, financial hardship, and rejection—proving that every challenge is an opportunity to rise higher.

As a child, his dream of flying was sparked by watching a Pan Am 747 soar into the sky. But growing up in a country where his father’s democratic ideals made their family enemies of the state, Behnam faced incredible barriers. His father was imprisoned twice, forcing Christopher to navigate much of his early life alone.

Despite rejection after rejection, he refused to let go of his dream. With nothing but a suitcase and $200 in his pocket, he arrived in the United States, determined to become a pilot. He worked multiple jobs, built his credit from nothing, and found unconventional ways to train—sitting in the backseat of flight lessons, studying aviation theory for free, and using makeshift simulators made out of wood in his apartment.

Later, he earned his pilot’s license and eventually secured a coveted position at United Airlines. But his ultimate test came years later, at 36,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean, when he found himself in command of United Airlines Flight 1175—a flight that could have ended in disaster.

On February 13, 2018, just over 200 miles from Honolulu, the #2 engine of his Boeing 777 catastrophically failed, sending shrapnel into the aircraft’s fuselage. With 381 lives on board, Captain Behnam and his crew faced an unprecedented emergency. There was no checklist for what they encountered—only their skill, training, and the unshakable leadership of a man who had spent his entire life preparing for this moment.

“The one thing I knew in that moment was today was not the day we were going to die,” Behnam says.

Miraculously, he guided the crippled aircraft to a safe landing in Honolulu, saving every single person on board. Aviation experts and United Airlines attempted to replicate it in a flight simulator, but found that the data from the flight was so extreme that it physically damaged the simulator itself.

Today, Captain Behnam is on a mission to share the lessons of leadership, resilience, and preparation so that you're ready when life taps you on the shoulder.

Captain Behnam’s message is clear: “Impossible is nothing.”

Welcome to Date with Destiny.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 – Welcome to Date with Destiny

02:08 – The Incident on United 1175

03:08 – Behnam’s Early Life & Challenges

10:18 – Journey to the U.S. & Becoming a Pilot

27:42 – Overcoming Rejection & Achieving Goals

47:00 – Landing the Dream Job at United Airlines

50:05 – Resilience in Aviation & Life

56:36 – Leadership Under Pressure

01:06:23 – The Power of Decision-Making

01:11:16 – Closing & Future Guests

📖 Date with Destiny: The Story of United 1175 and the Man Who Saved It – Available on Amazon & in audio format.

📺 Juan Browne’s Blancolirio YouTube Interview – A deep dive into the United 1175 incident.

🎤 For Speaking Engagements – CaptainBehnam.com.

🌎 Website: CaptainBehnam.com

📘 LinkedIn: Captain Christopher Behnam

📷 Instagram: @captainbehnamofficial

🎥 YouTube: Captain Behnam

📱 TikTok: @captainbehnamofficial

By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group

🌐 Website: www.massifsp.com

🌐 LinkedIn: Massif Studio & Production

🌐 Website: www.TallawahWorldwide.com

🌐 LinkedIn: The Tallawah Group

For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email 📩 [email protected].

Winston Churchill called it our finest hour. I call it my ‘Date with Destiny.’ We all face moments in life that test us—moments that ask us who we truly are.

For me, that moment came on February 13, 2018. United Airlines Flight 1175. A catastrophic failure of the #2 engine—at 36,000 feet, over 200 miles of open Pacific Ocean. Three hundred and eighty-one lives in my hands.

But this is not just a story about one flight. It’s about resilience. It’s about the unseen preparation, the quiet moments of resolve, and the lessons learned from starting over. It’s about how everything in my life—every hardship, every failure—prepared me for that moment.

You already know my story. But what I’ve come to realize is that every day, there are heroes all around us. Ordinary people who are called to face extraordinary moments—moments where their courage, resilience, and preparation are tested.

My ‘Date with Destiny’ came at 36,000 feet, but yours could come tomorrow. In your office. Your family. Your community. Will you rise to meet it?

In this podcast, you’ll hear the stories of people who stepped forward in their finest hours—not because they were fearless, but because they were ready. Their moments may not make headlines, but they will leave you inspired.

Because when you get that tap on your shoulder, will you be ready?

Date with Destiny: Stories of Resilience, Courage, and Preparation.

Wherever you listen to podcasts.