The hot air balloon crash in Brazil’s southern state of Santa Catarina on Saturday that killed eight people may have been caused by a combination of strong winds and a malfunctioning backup burner, officials revealed. Ulisses Gabriel, chief of police in Santa Catarina, told Globo News that weather conditions played a significant role in the crash, stating the wind was "quite strong" at the time of takeoff.

“Several people had to hold the balloon down during launch due to its instability,” he said. The balloon was initially tethered to a truck via a cable, but the movement was reportedly so intense that the balloon swayed violently from side to side.

Gabriel suggested that this instability may have caused a gas leak, which could have triggered the fire. “Despite it being flame-retardant, there was an intense fire,” he said, referring to the balloon’s tarpaulin.

According to Brazilian outlet Jornal Razão, the pilot believes the fire started in a backup burner stored in the basket. He reportedly told investigators: “I don't know if it stayed lit or reignited on its own, but it was the torch that started it all.”

After flames erupted mid-air, the pilot urged passengers to jump when the balloon neared the ground. Thirteen of the 21 people on board, including the pilot, survived, escaping before the balloon quickly rose back into the sky, now lighter, carrying the remaining trapped passengers.

“That is when people started to get desperate,” Gabriel added. “Some ended up jumping out of the basket. Those who stayed died from burns.”

The horrifying crash occurred in Praia Grande, a popular ballooning destination. Eyewitness footage showed the balloon engulfed in flames and plummeting. A video circulating on social media captured two people falling through the air as the fire spread onboard.

Residents said that around 30 balloons were flying in the area that morning, with the doomed balloon being one of the last to take off. Its expected flight time was about 45 minutes, and it had reached altitudes of over 3,000 feet before disaster struck.

The exact cause is still under investigation, and authorities have identified two main hypotheses: adverse weather conditions and human error. Rescue teams continue to search the crash site for any missing persons.