1 May 2016

Pilot of glider that crashed in intensive care

7:40 pm on 1 May 2016

A man who witnessed a glider crash at Tauranga airport this afternoon says he's mystified how it could've happened.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board said the sole person on board was a 40-year-old man, from Katikati, who's in a critical condition in hospital.

Tauranga Gliding Club deputy chief flying instructor Mark Arundel said he's traumatised by seeing the crash.

The pilot is a club member who joined within the past year.

Mr Arundel said he couldn't understand why the glider had come down or what factors might have contributed.

An investigator from the Civil Aviation Authority will arrive in the morning, he said.