9/11's Hidden Story: How One Schedule Change Saved This Pilot's Life | Capt Steve Schreiber

The Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast with Ryan Keys

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast, host Ryan Keys welcomes Captain Steve Scheibner, a veteran naval aviator, commercial airline captain, and leadership mentor whose career and life were forever altered by a fateful twist of history. Beginning his career as a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion pilot, Scheibner played a vital role in Cold War anti-submarine warfare, where decentralized command and trust were essential to mission success. Transitioning into commercial aviation with American Airlines, he expanded his skills and perspectives as a professional aviator.

On September 11, 2001, a last-minute scheduling change kept Scheibner from being in the cockpit of American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane hijacked that morning. That near miss reframed his life’s purpose, compelling him to integrate leadership, faith, and mentorship into every aspect of his journey. He went on to design Navy core values training that impacted over 10,000 service members, founded a thriving church in Maine, and built programs that bridge the gap between military discipline and personal character development.

Today, Scheibner is known to many as “Captain Steve” through his popular aviation YouTube channel with more than 800,000 followers. His unique blend of operational expertise, theological insight, and leadership training makes him a sought-after speaker and mentor. Whether conducting Cold War missions, guiding airline crews, or inspiring audiences worldwide, Scheibner exemplifies purposeful living rooted in core values, resilience, and service.

His story demonstrates how moments of fate can fuel a lifelong mission to lead with integrity and make every day count—lessons as relevant in the ready room as they are in civilian life.

What You’ll Learn:

• How naval aviation’s decentralized command structure builds trust and empowers leaders
• The role of the P-3 community in Cold War anti-submarine warfare
• How balancing military and civilian careers sharpens adaptability and focus
• Why pivotal, life-changing events reshape personal and professional priorities
• The importance of leadership training that integrates both career and character development
• How sharing and processing traumatic experiences fosters growth and healing
• Why naval aviation leadership principles apply far beyond the ready room
• How core values sustain purpose in both military and civilian life
• The role of adaptability in seizing unexpected career opportunities
• How to make every day count by carrying lessons of fate, faith, and service into leadership
  

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Highlights and YouTube Chapters:

• [00:00] Welcome to the Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast
• [02:56] Finding Your Path: From College Graduate to Naval Aviator
• [06:46] Doers vs Thinkers: The Psychology of Naval Aviation
• [09:08] Cold War Chronicles: Tracking Soviet Submarines
• [13:17] Teaching the Next Generation: From P-3s to Flight Instruction
• [21:53] Developing Naval Leadership: The Core Values Course
• [30:33] Flight 11: A Life-Changing Near Miss on 9/11
• [42:57] Trust and Leadership: The Power of Decentralized Command
• [45:42] Looking Ahead: From Triple Seven Captain to Aviation Influencer
• [48:44] Final Thoughts: Leadership Beyond the Cockpit
  

Episode Resources:

• US Navy Website
• Ryan Keys on LinkedIn
• Naval Aviation Museum Foundation Website