A South African Airways pilot who used bogus credentials to gain work on long-haul international flights has been charged and is being pursued for millions of Rand in wages overpaid because of his fraud.

Key points: Mr Chandler had a Commercial Pilots Licence but not the advance Airline Transport Pilot Licence needed for long-haul international flights

Mr Chandler had a Commercial Pilots Licence but not the advance Airline Transport Pilot Licence needed for long-haul international flights He had been a pilot with SAA since 1994

He had been a pilot with SAA since 1994 SAA said no safety risk had been posed as Mr Chandler had undertaken all required safety training

William Chandler reportedly flew for SAA for 20 years but his scam was not exposed until an investigation was launched after an Airbus A340-600 hit atmospheric disturbance over the Swiss Alps in November 2018.

According to South African newspaper the Mail & Guardian "some strange turns" were made.

Mr Chandler was a senior first officer and had operated that flight from Johannesburg to Frankfurt, the airline has confirmed.

The plane landed safely but during a probe into the "reportable incident", it was discovered he did not have the advanced qualifications required for the job he was doing.

"[He] claimed that he was qualified and had an airline transport pilot licence (ATPL)," SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali said.

"He only had a commercial pilot licence."

To earn an ATPL, pilots must have a minimum 1,500 hours' aeronautical experience and regularly have their credentials assessed.

The licence allows the holder to "be the pilot-in-command or the co-pilot of any operation," according to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

SAA requires all its pilots to gain an APTL within five years of starting but Mr Chandler, who was employed by SAA as a pilot in 1994, never acquired one and reportedly turned down promotions to captain for fear it would lead to close scrutiny of his credentials.

"We take note that at no point did the alleged fraudulent licence present any safety risk to SAA's operation as the pilot in question was in possession of a valid Commercial Pilot Licence and was the monitoring pilot and not the commander of the aircraft," Mr Tlali said.

"The pilot had successfully completed all required safety training.

"However, we find it disconcerting that misrepresentations were made about the type of licence that the pilot claimed to possess."

By lying about having an ATPL, Mr Chandler was promoted and given pay rises — money which SAA is now trying to recover.

"SAA has suffered actual financial prejudice and has opened a criminal case of fraud against that pilot," Mr Tlali said.

"Necessary steps will be taken to recover the money unduly paid to him. These include salary, overtime and allowances."

After learning they had been hoodwinked by Mr Chandler, SAA has sent all its pilot's licences to the South African Civil Aviation Authority to be audited.

"The SACAA has indicated that the verification process is progressing well and no irregularities were identified to date," Mr Tlali said.