Public issued warning as prisoner escapes custody at airport while being transported by officers

A warning has been issued to the public after a prisoner escaped from transportation officers at a Washington airport on Tuesday (12 August).

John Nino, 20, escaped the custody of two officers shortly before 8pm while he was being escorted through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, US authorities have confirmed.

He slipped away from the DOC officials while on the fourth floor of the airport garage and made a run for it.

The Washington State Department of Corrections has since issued an online plea, warning people not to approach the criminal, but instead to call 911 if they spot him.

Nino is described as being 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 154 pounds, and authorities have also released a photograph of the escapee.

A warning has been issued after a prisoner escaped while being transported through an airport in Washington (Getty Stock Image)

According to ABC News, he was wearing a red coat and grey sweatpants, and officers said they last saw him crossing railroad tracks and heading towards Highway 99, which is near the airport, before he disappeared from view.

The publication also reported that Nino was arrested a few days ago in New Mexico and was being returned to Department of Corrections custody in Washington when he made a break for it.

He was on community supervision for second-degree robbery and reportedly had a warrant out for his arrest after he'd failed to report for meetings with his community corrections officer.

Fox13 further reports that the Port of Seattle Police and DOC officers both searched the area where he appeared to run into, but did not locate the prisoner.

According to SEA Airport, Nino got away after running across a pedestrian bridge on the east side of the station towards International Boulevard.

Surprisingly, this is not the first time that a criminal escaped custody while being transported through the very same airport.

20-year-old John Nino is on the run after escaping two officers (Seattle Department of Corrections)

Just a few months before, on May 4th, 29-year-old prisoner Sedric Stevenson escaped the custody of contracted agents as he was being transported through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

He was captured on video as he escaped while shackled and remained on the run for over six weeks before he was located and arrested again in Seattle in June.

The escapee was seen running to the SeaTac light rail station after he got away from the officers.

Law enforcement officers also reportedly arrested a second person who investigators revealed was assisting Stevenson with his escape.

According to Fox13, the convicted felon was being flown back to Bowling Green, Kentucky, after he failed to appear in court.