Video of Horrifying Ringling Brothers Circus Accident [WATCH]

Eight aerial acrobats with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus were severely injured Sunday afternoon after plummeting more than 20 feet during a performance in Providence, Rhode Island. 

According to investigators, the suspected cause was a snapped clip called a caribiner that's commonly used in everything from rock climbing to dog chains.  Fire officials on the scene said that the 4 to 5 inch steel clip was found in three pieces on the ground.

However, Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare wouldn't completely commit the fault to the carabiner as the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is still investigating to make their final determination.

Pare was quoted as stating, "We don't know if it was metal fatigue, if it wasn't properly positioned or something else. We just don't know."

Two of the acrobats were in critical condition Monday and all eight were still hospitalized with injuries including head injuries, a pierced liver and neck and back fractures.  One dancer who was on the ground at the time was also injured, but released from the hospital Sunday.

None of the injuries appear to be life-threatening, said Stephen Payne, a spokesman for Feld Entertainment, Ringling's parent company.