US jets drop bombs on barrier reef

Two US fighter jets dropped four unarmed bombs in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park when a training exercise went wrong, it has emerged.

The two AV-8B Harrier jets launched from aircraft carrier USS Bonhomme Richard each jettisoned an inert bomb and an unarmed explosive bomb in the World Heritage-listed marine park off the coast of Queensland state on Tuesday, the US 7th Fleet said.