In-flight failure

Although I hitched a ride with Icarus
It really took the Hindenburg
To grab me a headline.

Those early airliners were so
Easy as to be embarrassing.
Seven-four-sevens take more work
But offer more reward:
Five-twenty my personal best.

My darkest day
Saw twelve-oh-two alarms and empty tanks
Land safely in Tranquility;
But I redeemed myself as
The O-ring in Challenger’s booster
Semtex in the Clipper’s hold
Stray metal flicked by Concorde’s tyre.
Yes, my Goliath is always
Surprised.

No gamma flash or mushroom cloud
Attends my small-time apocalypse;
Usually it’s just me, my
Good friend fire, and
Humble servant
Gravity.