The Rikers Island city jail was put in lockdown briefly Thursday as New York officials scrambled to find a rape and kidnapping suspect who went missing, officials said.

The anxiety lasted about two hours until the inmate, who was not immediately identified, was found. The 26-year-old prisoner also had convictions for felony criminal mischief and felony grand larceny.

Officers noticed the inmate might be missing when he was due to appear Thursday in a Queens courtroom. Officials ordered a lockdown at Rikers, a recount of the entire island, and a recount of the prisoner population at the Queens courthouse. The escape scare began around 2 p.m., and ended shortly before 4 p.m.