Bombs dropped on Great Barrier Reef by US jets

Four bombs have been dropped on Australia's Great Barrier Reef by American fighters jets, during a training exercise that went wrong.

Fortunately, the unarmed bombs didn't explode. They fell into water about 50m deep and away from coral to limit damage.

Two Marine jets dropped four 500lb bombs on the Great Barrier Reef this week after a fuel emergency meant they could not land while carrying the weapons. 

The AV-8B Harriers, part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, had been taking part in a training exercise when the pilots realized they were running low on fuel. 

Each Harrier was forced to drop two bombs on the UNESCO world heritage site, although there was no risk of them exploding, according to defense officials.

Two Harrier jets, like the one pictured, were forced to drop 500lb bombs in the Great Barrier Reef after running low on fuel

The planes were meant to drop them in a bombing range on a nearby island, but that was abandoned after hazards were reported.

The US navy said the planes were low on fuel and could not land while loaded.

The bombs were dropped about 16 nautical miles south of Bell Cay in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, according to NBC News.

Defense officials said they tried to pick a location that would reduce the risk of damage to the reef, and said the bomb site was in a 'deep channel' about 60 metres deep.

The pilots were supposed to drop the bombs on Townshend Island as part of a training exercise, but at the last moment they were told the range was not clear.

The Great Barrier Reef is the planet's largest collection of corals and a Unesco World Heritage site.

It stretches for more than 2,000km along the north-east coast of Australia.

From:

• BBC News
• Daily Mail