SINGAPORE – Last week, social media exploded with mesmerizing videos of a so-called "lightning ball" hovering over various neighborhoods in Singapore.

This unusual luminescent orb, at times gleaming violet, was reportedly seen floating in mid-air around Tampines, Pasir Ris Park, and Yishun, captivating the online community.

The saga began on September 19 when TikTok user @sundayannab1 shared dashcam footage that showed an astonished passenger urging the driver to stop as they encountered the mysterious orb.

The clip quickly gained traction, amassing over 40,000 likes and spreading like wildfire with more than 24,000 shares.

As more sightings emerged across various platforms, viewers were left speculating about the orb's origin. Some suggested it was ball lightning—an extraordinarily rare weather phenomenon known to create dazzling spheres of light during storms.

One Instagram user, @juwiezy, commented, "This has been reported in other parts of the world, and only the lucky ones get to capture it!" Others humorously connected it to a new local sci-fi film.

However, the plot thickened on September 22 when fintech company YouTrip revealed the truth; the videos were part of a creative marketing campaign celebrating their birthday mascot, a whimsical purple dragon named Trippie.

In a playful TikTok post, YouTrip announced, "These tiny dragons zipped from Tampines to Yishun before landing in a suitcase at Changi, and now... they’re ready to make a big splash!"

They also hinted at something special coming on September 24, encouraging fans to stay tuned.

This isn't the first time YouTrip has dazzled audiences with a stunt. Back in April, they shared stunning visuals of purple skies over the Johor-Singapore Causeway, celebrating the launch of their Malaysian ringgit wallet, which amassed over three million views.