The pilot of a glider which crashed at Tauranga Airport suffered head and spinal injuries.

The 40-year-old Katikati man was taken to Tauranga Hospital with critical injuries after yesterday afternoon's crash.

Police at the scene of the crash yesterday. Photo: Christel Yardley/Fairfax NZ.

The crash happened at 3pm at the northwest end of the airport near Seawind Lane, off Jean Batten Drive. Read more here.

Only one person was involved in the incident.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew was later dispatched to Tauranga Hospital with an Intensive Care Unit retrieval team to transfer the injured pilot to Waikato Hospital.

The man was flown to Waikato Hospital at 11pm and remains in a critical condition with head and spinal injuries.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are continuing.