Well this is part of the training. When you operating in combat zone the normal procedure is to go as high as possible as fast as possible. Sure, you don't have the freedom to barrel roll the a-320 but the past always infect the present. Actually, the plane was heading to Syria, the exact place where you will have all chances to encounter some rather unpleasant manpad experience. I am kinda sure the captain mindset was already "switched" to Latakia take-off and landing.