Good thing you kept your cool and attempted to discuss with Billy before pulling the release. I think you probably did the right thing.

I *think* you are supposed to crash both kite and then pull the release at the same time. Sometimes even pulling them at the same time can prevent one kite from depowering (if the lines are sufficiently tangled) dragging the other guy by the leash and two kites.. so you both have to expect the worst any time lines tangle.

Spooky stuff! I have never been in a tangle myself (yet).