UPDATE Aug. 13, 2025 5 p.m.: A 20-year-old inmate who escaped custody at Sea-Tac Airport late Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025 was captured in Tacoma less than 24 hours later, the Washington State Department of Corrections said.

Investigators spotted John Nino as a passenger in a car in King County on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 13, and followed it to Tacoma, where he was arrested without incident.

PREVIOUSLY:

Authorities were searching for a 20-year-old man who escaped custody Tuesday evening, Aug. 12, 2025, while being transported through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The DOC said John Nino, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 154 pounds, fled shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday night.

Nino was arrested several days ago in New Mexico and was being returned to DOC custody in Washington when he escaped.

He was most recently on community supervision for a second-degree robbery conviction out of Thurston County, and DOC issued a warrant for him in June after he failed to meet with his community corrections officer.

Nino was last seen wearing a red coat and gray sweatpants (see photo below).

Officers reported seeing him cross railroad tracks and head toward Highway 99.

The department is urging the public not to approach Nino if spotted.

“If you see Nino, do not approach him. Please call 911,” the Department of Corrections said in a public notice.

Local law enforcement agencies assisted in the search.

This was the second time in recent months that a prisoner has escaped from Sea-Tac Airport during transport.

In a still image from surveillance video, Nino appeared to have removed his wrist restraints, the DOC said.