A small cargo plane of Kin-Avia airline was gaining altitude at the airfield in the town of Ilebo in the Kasai province on Friday evening when children ran across the runway.
"It was a boy aged at least 12, who was crossing the airstrip during the plane's take-off. The plane going to [the DRC capital of] Kinshasa crushed him, and he died on the spot," Kasongo told Congolese news website 7sur7.
The authorities repeatedly urged citizens not to cross the runway, but violations continue, the administrator added.