Small planes may be more dangerous because they tend to be made from less sturdy materials, which means that they could be affected by weather conditions to which a large jet would be impervious. They also have fewer layers of safety systems, so a single malfunction is more likely to cause a crash. Passengers are closer to pilots, creating a greater risk of distractions that hinder the safe operation of the plane. Sometimes pilots of small planes are less experienced and less prepared to respond to emergencies than pilots of large jets.