The bombs were dropped away from the coral reef, where most of the aquatic marine life inhabits. (creative commons)

Two jets, AV-8B Harrier jets to be precise, each dropped an inert practice bomb and an unarmed laser-guided explosive bomb, neither of which went off. The planes came from  aircraft carrier USS Bonhomme Richard

From USA Today: 

“The jets from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit had intended to drop the ordnances on the Townshend Island bombing range, but aborted the mission when controllers reported the area was not clear of hazards. 

The pilots conducted the emergency jettison because they were low on fuel and could not land with their bomb load.

The emergency happened on the second day of the biennial joint training exercise Talisman Saber, which brings together 28,000 U.S. and Australian military personnel over three weeks.”

Spokesmen from the Navy have not reported whether or not the unarmed bombs will prove to be an environmental risk.

Reach Executive Producer Eric Parra here.