NEWNAN | Local airman's funeral to be streamed online | News

NEWNAN, Ga. -- A 29-year-old airman from Newnan has died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Africa.

Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock and three other airmen were killed February 18th in an accident involving their U-28 aircraft, according to the Department of Defense. It happened Saturday near Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. According to the Associated Press, they were on their way back from a reconaissance mission flown in support of the war in Afghanistan. 

RELATED | Sign a condolence book for Capt. Whitlock

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but the AP also reported the crash did not appear to have resulted from enemy fire. 

Whitlock was assigned to the 34th Special Operations Squadron at Hulburt Field, Fla. The special forces officer was promoted to Captain last year, and recently married. 

Whitlock grew up in Newnan, where his father works in local government and his mother is employed by their family's church.  His brother has also been deployed to the Middle East.

The Whitlock family will receive Capt. Whitlock's remains on Saturday.

His funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church of Newnan. The church plans to open up extra viewing space for what's expected to be a standing room only crowd. The church will also stream the funeral online for Whitlock's fellow servicemembers who can't make it.

The three other airmen killed in the crash were Capt. Ryan P. Hall of Colorado Springs, Colo., 1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkins of Bend, Ore. and Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten of Upper Marlboro, Md.