US fighter jets dropped inert bombs on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's coast during a training exercise that went wrong, it has emerged.

The two planes jettisoned four bombs in more than 50m (165 ft) of water, away from coral, to minimise damage to the World Heritage Site, the US navy said.

The jets had intended to drop at a bombing range on a nearby island, but Tuesday's mission was aborted.

Maybe the Great Barrier Reef looked threatening to the US?

Maybe someone told them there was oil under it.

Isn't an 'inert bomb' just a term for a bomb shaped piece of scrap iron?
If so it's hardly a threat to the ecosystem.

I partially agree. It depends on how much damage it does on the way down (how much energy it is carrying when / if it hits the coral). Once it is there, it should eventually become part of the reef, assuming that it doesn't have any toxic materials (paint etc.) that could dissolve over time.

I partially agree. It depends on how much damage it does on the way down (how much energy it is carrying when / if it hits the coral). Once it is there, it should eventually become part of the reef, assuming that it doesn't have any toxic materials (paint etc.) that could dissolve over time.

I partially agree. It depends on how much damage it does on the way down (how much energy it is carrying when / if it hits the coral). Once it is there, it should eventually become part of the reef, assuming that it doesn't have any toxic materials (paint etc.) that could dissolve over time.