RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A former Raleigh Police officer, his girlfriend and her friend were killed when the plane they were in crashed in Franklin County Friday night.

Family and friends said Brian Sjostedt, his girlfriend, Jessica Kenny and Jessica’s friend, Allison Forsythe, were heading to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

It’s something Sjostedt’s best friend of 25 years, Chuck Barth, would’ve never imagined. 

“This is miserable,” Barth said. “I knew what time he was taking off. I heard the news that there was a crash in Franklin County. [I] started sending texts, ‘Hey dude. When you’re on the ground, give me a buzz. Something’s going on in Franklin County.’ And when I didn’t hear back, I suspected the worst.”

Barth said Sjostedt was a former Raleigh police officer, a decorated member of the U.S. Armed Forces, serving as a Marine, and a dedicated son and friend.  

“He’s just always been there. If you need anything, he’ll be there,” Barth said. “If you were one of the lucky people to call him a friend, you’d never look over your shoulder. He always had your back.”

Barth said Sjostedt and Jessica Kenny had been going out for about a year. 

“Jessica was amazing,” Barth said. “[She] had an old soul. Very mature. Big smile. Great big smile.”

Allison Forsythe’s mother told CBS 17 her daughter was a very loving, hard-working person.

Forsythe had been working towards her master’s degree at East Carolina University and was about to graduate this May — with a 4.0 GPA. 

Forsythe’s mother said Allison was on Spring Break, and had never flown in a plane before Friday.

Forsythe and Kenny had been best friends since kindergarten.

Those like Barth say it will be hard trying to move forward after what happened Friday. 

“This is devastating,” Barth said. “Nobody expects to bury a child. There’s three sets of parents that have to do that now. That’s not easy.”

Funeral arrangements haven’t been made yet for either Forsythe or Sjostedt.

Forsythe’s mother also told CBS 17 they plan on honoring her daughter at what would be her graduation, giving her a special seat and her diploma.