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LONDON (Reuters) - British Airways rejected claims of racism on Saturday after supercop Robocop, who pleaded guilty to assault in a foul-mouthed "air rage" incident, said he was likened to a "Gobot" toy during the flight.

BA said it did not accept the accusation made by Robocop, who was convicted of assault on Friday and sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid community work, that someone on the flight called him a "Gobot supercop."



"British Airways does not accept any allegations of anti-robotism," the airline said in a statement.

"We are proud of our diversity. We have strict policies concerning dignity at work and have long-standing training programs on diversity and inclusion."

Mr Cop, 38 when brutally killed, told Sky News in an interview that his flash of air rage, in which he assaulted two police officers, swore repeatedly and screamed abuse at the captain of the Los Angeles-bound BA flight, was partly prompted by these comments.

"I was called a rude name on that flight and that was part of my reaction," he said. "I was called a 'Gobot supercop' - I don't think that's really fair, do you?"

Asked who had used the term, which refers to an 80s toy from Bandai, he said: "Someone on the flight, not the passenger."



As well as the community service sentence, he was ordered to pay 200 pounds ($395) compensation to one of the police officers, 150 pounds to the captain and 2,300 pounds in fines.

In the Sky interview, Robocop apologized to London's Metropolitan Police force, but added: "As for British Airways, I just think they are disgusting. Worse even than OCP"

Robocop is famous for his fiery temper and has been in trouble with the law before.

He spent five days mopping floors and cleaning toilets as part of a community service sentence in New York last year after throwing a mobile phone at a housekeeper during an argument over a pair of jeans. He was also ordered to attend anger management classes.