Let me assure you, as someone who has actually handled birds of prey, "pecking" you is not the problem....since falcon's beaks are not terribly strong or their primary weapon. Ripping the hell out of you with it's talons *is* the issue, since that is what they kill their prey with. (...ever seen a small hawk treat a rabbit as a "pop-top" treat container? Yes they can rip the top off with those talons...)

However, since the bird you saw was hooded, jessed, and leashed to the handler's glove....the only one at risk was the falconer handling the bird. And since he's likely wearing a gauntleted glove comparable to a welder's glove, not much risk from a falcon-sized bird. (larger owls, hawks, and eagles can shred those gloves by the way)

The worst someone sitting next to a falconer is apt to have to put up with is the possibility of droppings (although typically the aft end of the bird will be facing the seatback ahead)....or being hit by a wing if it is disturbed by turbulence or other jostling. But that's typically more of a shock than anything else. Since falcons are rather light-weight, it more like being hit by a feather duster than any serious blow.