US Jets Dropped Bombs On Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

US jets dropped bombs on the Great Barrier Reef this week. But while the drop was an emergency move, the bombs were unarmed and did not detonate.

The Associated Press reports that the four bombs were dropped in more than 164 feet of water. The area they were left was away from coral in order to minimize any possible damage to the Great Barrier Reef.

The jets were AV-8B Harriers with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit that had taken off from aircraft carrier USS Bonhomme Richard. They were scheduled to drop the bombs on the range, but were told that it was not clear. After making several attempts to drop the ordinance, they began to run low on fuel.

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