Who is Captain Christopher Behnam?
CAPTAIN BEHNAM
Keynote and Motivational Speaker, Public Speaker, Experienced United Airlines 777 Captain, Superior Airmanship Award Recipient, Human Rights Advocate
Leadership Under Pressure – Lessons from the Cockpit to your Board and Conference rooms
In 2018, Captain Behnam was at the helm of a Boeing 777 en route to Honolulu when catastrophic engine failure put 381 lives in jeopardy. With the aircraft nearly uncontrollable, it was his exceptional skill, decisive leadership, and unshakable composure that ensured a safe landing—turning potential disaster into a powerful lesson in resilience, strategy, and execution under pressure.
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Recognized by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) with the prestigious Superior Airmanship Award—bestowed only five times since the 1930s—Captain Behnam’s mastery of crisis management extends far beyond aviation. ​
Now, as a globally sought-after keynote speaker, he brings battle-tested leadership insights to top corporations, CEOs, and executive teams navigating high-stakes decisions, turbulence in business, and the pressure to perform in uncertain times.
​​From the cockpit to the boardroom, Captain Behnam translates life-or-death aviation principles into corporate resilience strategies, helping businesses and leaders stay calm, adaptable, and decisive when it matters most. His acclaimed book, "Date with Destiny: The Untold Story of UA 1175 and the Man Who Saved It (Amazon, US)," is now available for order.​
Speaking topics may include Leadership, Stability in instability, Making decisions under pressure, Resilience, Aviation, Influencer Growth, Crisis Management
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Christopher has helped several Fortune 500 companies, conferences and summits’ attendees improve resilience and leadership mindset such as General Electric (GE), RH ISAC Cyber Intelligence Summit.
Date With Destiny
Inspiring conversations on leadership, resilience, and transformation with Captain Behnam and extraordinary guests.
In the Media
Explore featured interviews, press coverage, and articles highlighting Captain Behnam’s journey and insights
Book Captain Behnam
Bring Captain Behnam to your next event for an unforgettable keynote on leadership under pressure.
