In August 1993 a group of criminals stole a cockpit computer from a Carnival Airlines aircraft at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport . During the day the criminals contacted " potential buyers " at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City . The " buyers " were actually Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) agents performing " Operation Skycrook , " a sting operation to deter thieves of commercial aircraft parts . In 1995 , after the crash of American Airlines Flight 965 , scavengers took cockpit avionics , engine thrust reversers , and other parts from the crash site by helicopter . Many of the stolen parts appeared for sale in the Greater Miami area . In response , American Airlines published a 14-page list of the parts missing from the crashed aircraft , including the serial numbers
American Airlines Flight 965
American Airlines Flight 965
Unapproved aircraft part