WTF!!! "The two AV-8B Harrier jets each dropped two 226kg bombs - TopicsExpress

WTF!!! "The two AV-8B Harrier jets each dropped two 226kg bombs on the world heritage-listed reef in an emergency jettison during a training mission on Tuesday. The incident came ahead of Exercise Talisman Saber, a biennial training operation between Australian and US forces based at Shoalwater Bay on the central Queensland coast. The dropped bombs had not detonated and a US official has reportedly said the chance of any of them exploding is "extremely remote". The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority told News Corp Australia they had not heard about the incident, but would look into it. The extent of any environmental damage was not clear... ...The Australian Defence Force confirmed the events and said the bombs posed "minimal risk or threat to the public, the marine environment or civilian shipping transiting the reef area". "The incident is being investigated by the US and findings will be provided to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority so that the way ahead can be mutually agreed," a spokesman said... ...The US Navy is planning to recover the bombs, which were dropped in a "deep channel" about 16 nautical miles south of Bell Cay, off the Capricorn Coast between Mackay and Rockhampton, according to NBC." couriermail.au/news/queensland/us-marine-harrier-jets-forced-to-drop-unarmed-bombs-on-heritagelisted-great-barrier-reef/story-fnihsrf2-1226682408899