I heard that the U.S. removed it’s patriot air defense system from Turkey a couple months ago? Why didn’t the SU-24 drop flares and chaff if being followed by F-16’s? They obviously didn’t anticipate such Turkish aggression..
I think you're right. They were just as surprised as everyone else, just like it probably did not cross their minds that the Turks would shoot them in their parachute descent, or blow up their rescue helicopter. It is really hard to believe, isn't it?