Even if you don’t believe in “bad omens,” there are some things that can go wrong early in your trip that will make you question if you even want to continue your travels.
For example, one woman showed up at the airport, only to see the airline booting 15 people from her flight. Another said she booked a flight to Nice, France—only to end up in Tunisia.
Generally speaking, these errors are understandable. Flight overbookings mean that some people will inevitably be denied boarding, while saying you want to go “to Nice” can easily be confused by a tired airline worker as a request to fly to “Tunis.”
However, some things are not only difficult to understand but frightening. Such was the case for TikTok user Yenny (@yennya52). According to the TikToker, she took a flight to Santorini, Greece—and ended up landing under blood-red skies.
Why Did The Sky Turn Red?
In a video with over 3.7 million views, TikTok user Yenny (@yennya52) shows the inside of an airplane. Looking out of the window, one can see that the sky, ground, and everything else visible is cast in a vibrant shade of red.
“Reevaluating my life choices as I fly to Santorini and the sky turns into an apocalyptic deep red,” she writes in the text overlaying the video.
Commenters were quick to say that they, too, would be reevaluating their lives if they were in a similar situation.
“baby that’s the upside down,” joked a user.
“i would start to repent IMMEDIATELY,” declared another.
“Idc how rational an explanation, every part of me would have been terrified,” stated a third.
But what actually causes this?
The Reason Why The Skies Turned Red
As reported by Reuters, this phenomenon was observed not only on Santorini but on other Greek islands as well.
The reason, it turns out, is pretty simple to explain. Strong winds carried dust up from North Africa. This had the effect of not only disrupting flights but causing the visibility change shown in the TikToker’s video. Visitors and locals alike were advised to remain indoors and limit exposure to the air.
As these storms continue, it’s possible that such impacts will be seen in other nations as well. The United Kingdom saw such an event earlier this year, experiencing similarly red skies thanks to winds coming from North Africa.
How Common Is This?
There are many reasons why the sky might suddenly change color. These reasons vary from documented natural phenomena to the consequences of human actions.
For an example of the latter, residents of Birmingham, England, were startled earlier this year when they looked to the skies and found they had turned a shade of pink. Later, it was revealed that this color change happened as a result of light pollution from a nearby soccer stadium, which used UV light to help grow its grass.
Examples of the former are countless. For example, in July 2022, South Dakota residents reported that their skies appeared green. According to EuroNews, it’s not fully understood why skies can turn green. Scientists speculate that this could happen due to storm clouds containing a large amount of liquid water. These clouds then filter sunlight so that mostly blue light passes through. This mixes with red light from the sun, creating a visible green.
Furthermore, Aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is known to produce numerous different colors, all visible in the sky.
In conclusion, a traveler shouldn’t be scared (or repent) just because the sky looks a little different. That said, they should be aware of potential weather issues and make preparations accordingly.
We’ve reached out to Yenny via TikTok direct message and comment.