I believe the SU 25 obtains Mach 0.82 with a ceiling of approx. 23,000 feet?
The 777 obtains Mach 0.89 and was flying at 33,000 ft, so
again, how does a ground attack aircraft with a service ceiling of 16,400 ft (with weapons - no point it being there without them) "circle' an airliner flying at 33,000 ft?