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The American Airlines passenger who became a human duct-tape roll after going berserk on a flight was allegedly triggered by a chat with a rabbi over religion, TMZ has confirmed.

Arthur Layne Lundeen was filmed being duct-taped to his seat after hurling the n-word and shouting anti-gay remarks at a flight attendant during last Thursday's AA flight from Texas to New Jersey ... and now the catalyst has been revealed.

Richard O'lenick, one of the passengers who helped restrain Lundeen, tells TMZ ... minutes before his meltdown, Lundeen was having a 2-hour convo with Rabbi Jonathan Cahn about religion when, suddenly, one comment set him off and, like a light switch, his demeanor turned and he started ranting and raving like a maniac for a good 10 minutes, making everyone around them aware there was trouble brewing.

Police launched a desperate search for an American family after their small plane apparently crashed off the coast of the Bahamas ... and officials say two grandparents and their two grandchildren were on board.

In a statement, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said a PA-34 Piper five-seater aircraft with four people aboard took off from Great Harbour Cay late Monday morning en route to Opa-locka, Florida, and apparently crashed about 45 minutes later off the coast of Red Bays, North Andros in the Bahamas.

It's unclear what caused the plane to plummet.

The RBPF also said air traffic control lost contact with the plane about 13 miles west of Andros Island, noting that bad weather had prevented them from searching for the family for a period of time.

"Charlie's Angels" star Jaclyn Smith says Tanya Roberts offered her a devilish night in the bedroom ... pitching her a night of group sex shortly after Tanya joined the show.

The actress recalls the sexual offer in her new book, "I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie: A Memoir." According to PEOPLE, she writes that Tanya and her husband -- Barry Roberts -- approached her about a threesome in 1980, before the series' final season.

Jaclyn says she wasn't offended by the offer ... instead admitting she was impressed by Tanya's "honesty about her sexuality to be brave and self-aware."

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10:59 AM PT -- A White House official tells TMZ ... "This is a state case. Presidential pardons apply only to federal convictions."

Lindsay Clancy's lawyer Kevin Reddington is trying to bring in the big guns to get his client pardoned after she allegedly killed her 3 young children -- asking none other than President Trump to step in!

Reddington sat down for an interview with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday's episode of "Good Morning America" ... and he made a public plea to Trump after Clancy's trial last week in Massachusetts ended with a mistrial.

Prosecutors charged Clancy with 3 counts of murder for allegedly strangling her 3 kids ... 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan. She tried to die by suicide by jumping out of a second-story window at her home, but she wound up paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.

During the "Good Morning America" interview, Reddington told Stephanopoulos, "Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider this young lady and the person she is, what she's been through, and consider a pardon."

Corey Lewandowski tried to sell government services for financial profit when he was a "shadow secretary" at the Department of Homeland Security, according to a new report.

The Wall Street Journal published an article Monday night, claiming that Lewandowski approached Qatari officials to offer them "help" with any visa or other issues that fell under the umbrella of DHS.

Lewandowski also reportedly made a similar offer to United Arab Emirates officials.
The Journal said Lewandowski's motive was purely to enrich himself by selling government services.

NFL star Tyreek Hill is slamming his estranged wife, Keeta Vaccaro, over her claims that he attempted to intimidate witnesses ahead of their divorce trial ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Tyreek is calling out his ex for publicly and falsely accusing him and his lawyers of felony witness tampering ... and he's asking the judge to punish her with sanctions for doing so.

He said Keeta tried to criminalize a phone call he made to one of his exes. As TMZ first reported, Keeta took issue with Tyreek recently visiting his ex and mother of three of his children.

Former actress Eliza Dushku was 18 when she was cast as Missy -- a Los Angeles gymnast who transfers to a San Diego high school and makes the switch from gymnastics to cheerleading -- in the 2000 film classic "Bring It On."

Eliza hit the big screen with Hollywood icons Gabrielle Union and Kirsten Dunst.

"I transferred from Los Angeles! Your school has no gymnastics team! This is a last resort!"

Steve-O just built an Olympic-length pool in his Tennessee backyard ... and naturally, he cemented a "Jackass" butt plug into it.

The 82-foot heated lap pool was built by Pool and Spa Depot, and Steve-O tells TMZ it's part of his latest health and wellness push. He claims his biometrics now show he's 7,800% more fit than he was in February ... and he swam over 3 miles in the pool's first two days.

Steve-O also buried a few keepsakes in the concrete -- his handprints, signature, a 1-pound anvil and his medallion marking 18 years of sobriety.

Quinton Aaron is getting back in front of the camera after his terrifying health scare ... and his comeback project is hitting pretty close to home.

Sources familiar with the deal tell TMZ ... "The Blind Side" star has landed his own vertical microdrama based on true events from his life, with much of the story centered around his relationship drama.

We're told the project is still in development, but Quinton is expected to start filming soon.

It'll run 60 episodes -- each about 2 to 3 minutes long -- on Atwist, a new vertical platform working with Kevin Hart's Hartbeat and Upscale Productions on a slate of short-form shows and films.

Brandi Glanville says her health battle has gotten so bad she's hooked up to IVs nearly all day ... and she can barely eat.

The 'RHOBH' alum posted a raw video showing her IV setup, saying she's gotten extremely skinny, can't taste her food and feels like "death."

Brandi followed up Monday with an even more alarming update ... saying she's now on IV medication nearly 20 hours a day and is desperate to get out whatever she believes is in her face.

Jennifer Lopez is soaking up the final days of summer ... and she's doing it in a swimsuit that leaves very little to the imagination.

J.Lo shared two sizzling photos from her Labor Day weekend, posing in a plunging patterned one-piece covered in sparkling rhinestones and crystals.

The 57-year-old singer and actress paired the eye-catching suit with a matching silk cover-up, gold jewelry and full glam ... serving up some serious poolside star power.

The guy who helped turn an unruly American Airlines passenger into a human duct-tape roll has been identified ... and he's a New Jersey gun range owner who says stepping in was a no-brainer.

Richard O'Lenick -- owner of Gun for Hire in Woodland Park -- was one of the passengers who restrained Arthur "Layne" Lundeen during his alleged midair meltdown last week, according to the The Daily Voice.

The 53-year-old was traveling with his employee Juan Mejia, a retired cop, when Lundeen allegedly started hurling slurs and getting physical with people aboard the plane.

Rick Harrison is out of the hospital and recovering at home after undergoing emergency bypass surgery ... TMZ has learned.

A spokesperson for the Harrison family tells TMZ ... "Today, Rick was discharged from the hospital and is now resting at home. By all accounts, he's now doing great."

As TMZ previously reported, the "Pawn Stars" star initially went to the hospital for what was expected to be a routine stent procedure. Doctors discovered a more serious issue during the procedure, however, and determined he needed bypass surgery instead.

Wrestler Malakai Black had just won the PROGRESS Wrestling Men's World Championship ... but he quickly made the moment about his late friend Andy "The Butcher" Williams.

Black got emotional in the ring Sunday in Manchester, England ... telling fans he'd learned about Williams' death shortly before the match.

He said Andy was one of his best friends and admitted he was "hysterical backstage" for several minutes ... before somehow pulling himself together and competing.

Macklemore is firing back at critics who slammed his "Free Palestine" message during Ed Sheeran's MetLife Stadium concert ... insisting his comments were not an attack on Jewish people.

The rapper addressed the controversy Monday after his opening performance at Sheeran's New Jersey shows sparked backlash and calls for him to be removed from the remainder of the tour.

Macklemore says his message was about supporting Palestinian freedom and opposing the suffering of civilians ... not criticizing Jewish people.