Here's why:

* Gravity: This is the force of attraction between any two objects with mass. The Earth has a large mass, so it exerts a strong gravitational pull on everything near it, including airplanes.

* Mass of the Airplane: The airplane's mass contributes to the gravitational force acting on it. The heavier the airplane, the stronger the gravitational pull.

However, it's important to clarify:

* The airplane doesn't "pull" on the ground. Instead, the Earth's gravity pulls the airplane downwards.

* The ground pushes back on the airplane with an equal and opposite force. This is known as the normal force. This force is what keeps the airplane from falling through the ground.

Therefore, while the airplane's mass plays a role in the gravitational force, it's the Earth's gravity that's the primary force acting on the airplane, not the other way around.