The Airwaves Revenge.

In 1979, British Airways made a tiny mistake that cost them $5 billion.

They canceled one man's flight.

And the man took it very personally.

So personally that he launched his own airline just to compete with them.

What followed became one of the most brutal rivalries in business history…

The man’s name was Richard Branson.

Before he became Sir Richard Branson, he was a 29-year-old record label owner just trying to get to the British Virgin Islands.

But when British Airways canceled the last flight of the day, leaving him and dozens of others stranded...

Branson made a split-second decision that would eventually lead to a $5 billion airline empire.

Frustrated but quick-thinking, he grabbed a small blackboard and wrote:

"Virgin Airlines - $39 one-way to BVI."

Then he walked through the terminal calling out:

"Who wants to join me? I’ve chartered a plane!"

Within minutes, he filled the flight with stranded passengers and covered the $2,000 charter cost.

That day, Virgin Airlines was born.

While flying on “his” plane, a lightbulb went off in his head:

“If I can fill a plane with frustrated British Airways customers this easily... why not start my own airline?”

It would take five more years to pull it off.

But he never forgot the feeling of being stranded...