system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:Why can't planes have large parachutes attached to them, so if something goes wrong, they can pull the chutes and be lowered down softly?

Edit: "they" meaning the pilots


Edit2: So apparently this is a thing for smaller things, but **why isn't this done for larger passenger planes?**
gpt
First of all, if a plane has major issues while in flight, the shape of the plane still allows for a large glide ratio, meaning that as long as the plane maintains its shape (which seems like a necessary component for any parachute mechanism) it will continue moving forward, rather than going into a nosedive.  If that's the case, the plane can do just fine without additional help and glide into a landing area, rather than just falling.

Another thing to consider is that few accidents occur during the "cruising" portion of the flight.  It's much more likely for crashes to occur during takeoffs and landings.  During those portions of the flight, the aircraft is too low for parachutes to make much of a difference.  

In other words, having a parachute wouldn't actually solve any of the problems that are associated with typical airplane malfunctions.