FOXNews.com: BOMBS AWRY US Jets Drop Unarmed Bombs on Coral Reef

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BOMBS AWRY US Jets Drop Unarmed Bombs on Coral Reef Jul 21st 2013, 11:57 CANBERRA, Australia –  Two U.S. fighter jets have dropped four unarmed bombs in Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park when a training exercise went wrong. The U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement on Saturday that the two AV-8B Harrier jets launched from an aircraft carrier each jettisoned an inert bomb and an unarmed explosive bomb in the World Heritage-listed marine park off Queensland state on Tuesday. The pilots conducted the emergency jettison because they could not land with their bomb load. The navy says the four bombs were dropped in a channel away from coral to minimize possible damage to the reef. None exploded. An Australian Defense Forces spokesman was also quoted by Sky News as saying that the bombs posed "minimal risk or threat to the public, the marine environment or civilian shipping transiting the reef area". The jets had intended to drop the ordnances on an island bombing range but aborted the mission when controllers reported the area was not clear of hazards. The two jets were launched from aircraft carrier USS Bonhomme Richard during a three-week joint military training exercise involving around 28,000 US and Australian personnel. The 7th Fleet statement said that the Navy and Marines are investigating the jettisoning alongside Australian authorities. It was not immediately clear if any attempt would be made to retrieve the unexploded bombs from the reef area.

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